A few days ago I visited my mum for lunch and she told me this story. It is a puzzle story, which means that you will have to think and find out how something could possibly happen in the story. At first, I had all sorts of clever answers but, honestly, the one my mum gave me in the end was so good that I'd like to share it with you on the blog. So, here goes the story and if you have any good solutions you can post them as comments. In next week's post, the "original" solution will be revealed. But who knows? You may come up with equally good or even better ones.
The Puzzle:
There is a two-meter long tube which is made of plastic. It is straight and has a diameter of 45 centimeters. There are no holes on the surface of the tube anywhere and there is absolutely nothing inside it but air. The tube is located in somebody's garden. It is lying on the ground and it isn't covered or housed in anything special. Two cats (perfectly healthy young tabbies:) look into the tube from the opposite ends. The two cats cannot see each other. How is it possible???
It's time to think (picture from here)
1. cats can only see for 99 cm-s.
ReplyDelete2. the grass is too long.
3. their fur is too long, and they can't see anything from the world anyway (maybe they are emo-cats)
4. it's late at night (and footsteps can be heard out of the dark)
5. their eyes are not open, they just forgot to tell you that
6. they just had a fight, so they don't want to see each other (ever again)
7. one is looking in the tube from the top of it, the other one from the ground
8. they are sleepwalkers (sleeplookers)
Might be it's totally dark inside because the cats hide the light?
ReplyDeleteHi. i fully agree with AnnA, i think the cats are so fat...
ReplyDeleteNik
Speaking of fat cats--now i see the diameter is 45cm..but still that can be a theory:) Sooo, what is the official solution??
ReplyDeleteSo, the 'official' solution. (But I really like the other solutions as well:)
ReplyDeleteEverybody assumes that the cats look into the tube at the same time, although they don't have to. What if the two cats look into the tube at different times?
In that case, it is quite natural that they can't see each other.
hehehe...can't wait for the next puzzle story! :)
ReplyDeletePatience AnnA, there will be a new one in November. Probably from now on I'll post puzzles monthly 'cos people seem to like them.
ReplyDeleteNow I'd like to update my blogroll and the student resource links then there'll be a new science post with passive voice and then the puzzle.
Or maybe there will be a new kind of puzzle soon. I've just had a good idea:)