Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Posted by Sickboy at 2:25 PM
The Right Switch

In front of you are three light switches. Only one does anything, and it turns on the light downstairs. From here you can't see the light, and it makes no sound. You must determine which switch operates the light, BUT you can only go check it once. How do you figure out which switch is for the light?


Hint
Patience is a virtue.

11 comments:

Michael said...

Get someone to help you!

10:46 PM CDT
Michael said...

Put a mirror at the bottom of the steps to shine light up.

Install a plug thingee into the socket and plug in a loud stereo that will blast Pailhead when the right switch is thrown.

Ask someone why you can't go up and down your own stairs more than once?

Wait till morning when you don't give a fuck about the light. That's patience.

10:48 PM CDT
dad-e~O said...

turn on all 3. we are americans, what do we care about wastnig a litte juice.

7:37 AM CDT
Sickboy said...

you guys are coming up with good ideas, but still dont have it....

2:41 PM CDT
Mark M said...

Get a voltmeter. Take the faceplate off the switch and measure continuity across the poles of each switch. If you get something like 100 ohms across a pair of poles, you can figure there's probably a light bulb hooked up to it. Using this method, you don't even need to go downstairs to check.

4:11 PM CDT
Sickboy said...

OK Mark, that isnt the right answer but since you came up with such a creative way that works, Ill give it to you.

4:14 PM CDT
dad-e~O said...

not to take away from Mark's genius, but I want the real answer dammit

4:40 PM CDT
Sickboy said...

the real answer is turn on one of the lights, let it warm for 10-15 minutes, then go down and feel which bulb is warm.

5:11 PM CDT
Scott said...

I think Mark has a more time effective solution.

5:21 PM CDT
dad-e~O said...

that's dumb

5:37 PM CDT
Michael said...

Turn on one of the lights? WTF? I thought there were three switches, and only one did anything - i.e. there's only one fucking lamp. And if you turn on one of the lights, how do you know if the switch upstairs was on? how do you turn it on? If you know how to turn it on downstairs, fuck the upstairs switches.
You could call an electrician.
You could use OHM's law per Mark.
But WTF with that answer. It can't be complete. Mark wins. Mark wins.

10:13 PM CDT

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