Questions tagged [physics]
A puzzle relating to physics equations or physical principles such as energy, entropy, and classical/quantum mechanics.
104 questions
-3 votes
1 answer
230 views
Focusing sunlight to cook food
I had an interesting conversation over lunch last week. The discussion was if we can use the cosmic microwave background (or CMB in short) to cook food. Here’s a more relatable question. You must have ...
- 20.3k
7 votes
3 answers
2k views
Filling teapots
Today I enjoyed a fun event "Puzzlemaster" at the Cheltenham Science Festival. While there, Alex Bellos gave a nice puzzle, where, on reflection, I now disagree with his answer. It is as ...
- 12.2k
7 votes
3 answers
2k views
Make room, or get wet
An industrial process contains the following step: An upstream process dumps dirty water into the upper reservoir where it slowly drips through the filter, collecting in the lower reservoir. After ...
- 15.5k
16 votes
5 answers
1k views
Setting a box on the stairs
Bob is carrying a solid, heavy, sealed box of uniform density up a long flight of uniform steps. He'd like to take a break halfway and set the box down, but each of the box's dimensions is more than ...
- 7,213
2 votes
0 answers
225 views
A quantum physics puzzle [closed]
A new mathematical approach to quantum physics via graphs was found recently, see this paper for more details. It particular, it refers to papers by Anton Zeilinger, a Nobel laureate in physics of ...
- 6,177
0 votes
1 answer
359 views
Visual puzzle with a grid
Puzzle I composed, the reasoning matters more than the correct answer.
- 803
14 votes
3 answers
507 views
a11eN756e64657261747461636b
Note: if it isn't obvious, none of the below or any of the decrypted message are intended to be real. C:\TopSecret\vacant\alien_transmission.jpg: ...
- 4,241
8 votes
5 answers
3k views
Move a coin without touching it
There are three coins lying flat on a table, arranged in a straight line with their edges touching. Call the coins A, B, and C (B is in the middle). Here are the rules: You can touch and move only ...
- 7,213
4 votes
1 answer
199 views
Elapsed International Power
Clues: [contextual images] [beefcake horse] [beefcake horse reversed with 261] [x10] Instructions: Name That Movie _ _ _ _ T _ _ _ _ _ _ T _ _ _
- 839
1 vote
1 answer
159 views
Centridipity problem
Two objects are fixed inside a moving car by strings so that they can both move freely. The car's windows are closed. A wind chime is suspended from the roof. A helium balloon is tethered to the ...
- 16.7k
3 votes
1 answer
621 views
Decode this signal from outer space
A light signal is received from outer space at a frequency of 982.002MHz Calculate the wavelength of the signal and identify a corresponding earth unit. By using the exact value of the unit convert ...
- 1,576
1 vote
0 answers
161 views
Circuissonne Diagrams
This puzzle is part of the Monthly Topic Challenge #7: Board games. And also, this puzzle is also a parody of XKCD's 730. We're starting a project on Explain XKCD (link currently not available) to ...
- 2,805
-1 votes
1 answer
230 views
Which ball will finish faster? [closed]
I release two identical balls down these two ramps. Which ball will finish faster and why? There are no hidden tricks and this is a pure physics question.
- 39.7k
2 votes
1 answer
770 views
DCQ Pencil Top - a Quantum Enigmatic Puzzle
Clues: SILNZEANGIA ESEPCZUANGIA [Contextual Image] Instructions: Name That Place _ _ _ _ a _ _ _ Hint:
- 839
10 votes
3 answers
908 views
Catching the "L" train
This is a more difficult version of an earlier puzzle. Hit the "C" ball at such an angle that it creates a chain reaction which ultimately dislodges the "L" ball. Whenever the ball ...
- 15.5k