Odd Ball Interview Questions

Abraham · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:32

Deadbeat said:
It's an obvious assumption that an elephant would float.

why is it obvious? elephants "swim" under water with their trunk acting as a snorkel.

Jokester · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:33

Kingy said:
Wouldn't that give us the weight of water equal to the size of the elephant? Implying that everything weighs the same albeit multiplied by volume?

What determines weight? Density?

Forgive me, I'm ill, but more importantly, I found boobs greatly more interesting than physics during my short stint at school...

As long as it floats, the actual volume of water displaced will be less than the volume of the elephant (the ratio of volumes will be the same as ratio of densities - it's this property that you're relying on to avoid needing to know the density of the elephant).

Edit:-
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Do_elephants_float

Sp00n · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:33

simulatorman said:
They float to keep their blue tennis shoes from getting wet.

So you just googled "do elephants float" as well? huh?

D.P. · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:33

clade said:
True, the point was: do you really expect it to be in an interview?

another one that I didnt put in thats a logic question was

“Given the numbers 1 to 1000, what is the minimum numbers guesses needed to find a specific number if you are given the hint ‘higher’ or ‘lower’ for each guess you make.”

Simple binary divide and conquer, log2(1000). Any CS student should know 2^10 = 1024 giving an approximation.

Kingy · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:34

markweatherill said:
A manhole cover is round because the manhole is round.

<3 that...

Morbius · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:34

Does an elephant that's been breathing in helium float?

Abraham · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:35

Tefal said:
elephants float though don't they?

A bit of digging suggests that they can "float" just below the surface, which while meaning as far as we're concerned that they sink, suggests they have a density similar to water, so the volume would give you a reasonable estimate of the weight.

ProOrWhat · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:36

For the elephant question.

I would put the elephant into a container and start pouring water until the elephant begins to float. Then you can probably do some calculations to work out the density and mass given the volume of water.

I don't think interviewers are looking for an exact answer as there are often more than one answer to these questions. They will be looking for your reaction and how you cope under pressure. If you are relaxed and take the question as a joke and give a reasonable answer you will be fine.

Morbius · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:37

Hippos sink, which means that the BBC didn't actually get some to swim in a circle. Liars!

Kingy · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:37

Burnsy2023 said:
Quite frankly, I'd be telling the interviewer that they need the right tool for the job and that's some industrial scales. There is no point reinventing the wheel and I'd say that the cost benefit analysis for not hiring scales would indicate that this current plan needs to be re-evaluated.

Morbius · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:38

Burnsy2023 said:
Quite frankly, I'd be telling the interviewer that they need the right tool for the job and that's some industrial scales. There is no point reinventing the wheel and I'd say that the cost benefit analysis for not hiring scales would indicate that this current plan needs to be re-evaluated.

Why pay for some industrial scales? Just walk him over a weighbridge.

Burnsy2023 · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:39

Morbius said:
Why pay for some industrial scales? Just walk him over a weighbridge.

Well, I meant the hiring of time of/at suitable scales. That would include a weighbridge.

Deadbeat · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:40

If a plane starts up on a treadmill that matches its speed in such a way that it never moves, does it take off?

*runs*

Sp00n · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:42

Deadbeat said:
If a plane starts up on a treadmill that matches its speed in such a way that it never moves, does it take off?

*runs*

No.

Burnsy2023 · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:42

Deadbeat said:
If a plane starts up on a treadmill that matches its speed in such a way that it never moves, does it take off?

*runs*

Haven't you just answered the question in the question, or is it bad phrasing?

Morba · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:43

Morbius said:
Hippos sink, which means that the BBC didn't actually get some to swim in a circle. Liars!

Kingy · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:44

Jokester said:
As long as it floats, the actual volume of water displaced will be less than the volume of the elephant (the ratio of volumes will be the same as ratio of densities - it's this property that you're relying on to avoid needing to know the density of the elephant).

Edit:-
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Do_elephants_float

Losing me there I'm afraid...

If the elephant floats, then that would imply that the elephant was not wholly submerged, and the displacement would equal only part of the elephant?

More importantly, has my method for weighing boobs just been discredited? :eek:

My head hurts...

Jokester · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:46

The displacement in volume would only be part of the volume of the elephant, but it would be the total weight of the elephant as the elephant's density would be less than the waters.

Zowghi · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:47

Deadbeat said:
If a plane starts up on a treadmill that matches its speed in such a way that it never moves, does it take off?

*runs*

Short answer No as there would be no air flow over the wings and therefore no differance in air pressure.

Although the long answer is your question is floored. the wheels are free rolling and the driving force comes from thrust not the wheels, therefore you couldnt keep it on the treadmill.

Kingy · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:48

Deadbeat said:
If a plane starts up on a treadmill that matches its speed in such a way that it never moves, does it take off?

*runs*

No.

Speed isn't what allows a plane to take off, it's lift generated by the air moving under the wings. Doing takeoff speeds while remaining stationary wouldn't generate the lift required to take off (?)