5 replies to this topic

[drtrmiller]

I'm starting a collection of odd puzzles from my everyday life.

 

Puzzle #1:

 

A standard electric kitchen oven was used to cook a pie for 2 hours at 300 F. 24 hours later, the oven temperature remained at 125 F, despite not cooking anything since the pie, the day before.

 

Hints:

Spoiler

The temperature outside the house was 60 F, the temperature inside the house was 70 F.

An exhaust fan runs if the oven is heating, or if the oven temperature is greater than 150 F.  The exhaust fan turns off after the oven has cooled.  The exhaust fan had not run since after cooking, the day before.

 

The lowest allowed temperature setting for operation is 170 F.

 

Answer:

Spoiler

Like many electric ovens, this one featured a halogen oven light.  The oven light had been left on since the previous day, and the heat output from the light caused the oven to remain warm.

 

Puzzle #2:

 

A man turns on his smartphone, and a finger, other than his own, manipulates the capacitive touchscreen, to the man's amusement.

 

Hints:

Spoiler

There are no other people or animals in the vicinity.

The phone was in airplane mode.

 

 

Answer:

Spoiler

The man was eating a banana.  The skin of the banana "finger" caused an unexpected change in capacitance when inadvertently coming into contact with the smartphone screen, which is why the man was amused.

Edited by drtrmiller, March 31 2015 - 2:26 PM.

[drtrmiller]

Added a second puzzle.

Edited by drtrmiller, March 30 2015 - 9:04 PM.

[Silvak]

Puzzle #2 Guess

Spoiler

He is an amputee with a new bionic arm/hand. He's in the hospital still so his phone is in airplane mode.

OR, he had a finger transplant......but I like the other one better.

[Foogoo]

Puzzle #1 Guess

Spoiler

The oven is inside another oven (why not??)

[drtrmiller]

Answers added :o)

Edited by drtrmiller, March 31 2015 - 2:02 PM.

[Silvak]

Hahaha! Nice!