Exothermic or Endothermic?

R. · 01 Dec 2004, 21:54

Probably 1st class

...

Dr. Schambaugh, of the University of Oklahoma School of Chemical Engineering, Final Exam question for May of 1997.

Dr. Schambaugh is known for asking questions such as, "why do airplanes fly?" on his final exams.
His one and only final exam question in May 1997 for his Momentum, Heat and Mass Transfer II class was:
"Is hell exothermic or endothermic? Support your answer with proof."

Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law or some variant.
One student, however, wrote the following:

Quote:

First, We postulate that if souls exist, then they must have some mass.
If they do, then a mole of souls can also have a mass. So, at what rate are souls moving into hell and at what rate are souls leaving?
I think we can safely assume that once a soul gets to hell, it will not leave.

Therefore, no souls are leaving.
As for souls entering hell, let's look at the different religions that exist in the world today.
Some of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, then you will go to hell.
Since there are more than one of these religions and people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all people and souls go to hell.
With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in hell to increase exponentially.

Now, we look at the rate of change in volume in hell.
Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in hell to stay the same, the ratio of the mass of souls and volume needs to stay constant.

Two options exist:
1. If hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter hell, then the temperature and pressure in hell will increase until all hell breaks loose.
2. If hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until hell freezes over.

So which is it?
If we accept the quote given to me by Theresa M. during Freshman year, "that it will be a cold night in hell before I sleep with you" and take into account the fact that I still have NOT succeeded in having sexual relations with her, then Option 2 cannot be true...
Thus, hell is exothermic.

The student got the only A.

airhead · 01 Dec 2004, 23:56

i wrote so many papers like this in my life that have made my techers say WTF ?

White of High · 02 Dec 2004, 01:33

In Hungary there was a written exam, an essay of Philosophy. The uniqe question was: "What is the brave"? A boy was writting only one word: "This!"

Biter · 02 Dec 2004, 02:56

Ah thats brilliant! I could never write something like that!

Satan · 19 Dec 2004, 21:53

Heli · 19 Dec 2004, 22:19

That answer so makes sense!!

Biter · 20 Dec 2004, 23:29

Hi satan!

Long time no see.

01 Dec 2004, 23:56	#2
airhead the enchanted spleen Join Date: 12.02.2004 Location: ok, you see that sweet little cottage? I live next door in the nuthouse. Posts: 1,909	i wrote so many papers like this in my life that have made my techers say WTF ?

02 Dec 2004, 01:33	#3
White of High Nature's Siegfried Join Date: 27.05.2002 Location: Budapest, Hungary Posts: 2,930	In Hungary there was a written exam, an essay of Philosophy. The uniqe question was: "What is the brave"? A boy was writting only one word: "This!"

02 Dec 2004, 02:56	#4
Biter Lurker Join Date: 12.07.2004 Location: Kent Posts: 1,067	Ah thats brilliant! I could never write something like that!

19 Dec 2004, 21:53	#5
Satan The Red Guy Join Date: 01.12.1999 Location: Hell Posts: 666

19 Dec 2004, 22:19	#6
Heli Daddy's little internet junkie Join Date: 29.01.2004 Location: Grimsby Posts: 4,596	That answer so makes sense!!

20 Dec 2004, 23:29	#7
Biter Lurker Join Date: 12.07.2004 Location: Kent Posts: 1,067	Hi satan! Long time no see.