Weirdest homework question EVER

[Triskelion]

I find alien metaphors to be great classroom tools. They allow me to cover a range of social & cultural issues without the baggage of pissing contests between my country and my students', and let us focus instead on the lesson principles.

Of course, it's still lost, to some, who see no reason at all why they should have to see things from an alien "barbarian's" point of view.... But at least I've managed to avoid the same crap directed at me.

 

[Daedalus12]

This actually reminds me of a really stupid question I received on an Advanced Flight Dynamics final.

It was as follows: consider a spacecraft in orbit with a container where a bunch of chickens are initially standing on one side of the container. Now lets suppose the flock of chickens suddenly fly to to the other side and then back in repetition. Analyze the situation.

 

[RJDiogenes]

^^ Answer: To get to the other side!

If it was me, the guy from Mungo would be named Jerry.

You're just Rumpleteasing us, aren't you?

Close-- life's for living, yeah, that's my philosophy.

 

[B.J.]

This actually reminds me of a really stupid question I received on an Advanced Flight Dynamics final.

It was as follows: consider a spacecraft in orbit with a container where a bunch of chickens are initially standing on one side of the container. Now lets suppose the flock of chickens suddenly fly to to the other side and then back in repetition. Analyze the situation.

Affect on the orbit: nada. You might observe the spacecraft wobbling back and forth, but the overall center of mass stays the same.

Waitaminute.... I just remembered you went to the same school as me! I might have actually had that question, too!

 

[Danoz]

Reminds me of my comparative politics class. My professor had invented an elaborate, fictional country of "freedonia" and we had each represented different regions and had to draft resolution, etc.

 

[Major Chord]

^ I live about an hour away from a town called Fredonia so he was close...

That question is...well, weird. But, I can see how using something that students have no bias towards, or opinion of as a teaching instrument could be beneficial. Not that I would enjoy the problem though...I have a hunch that it'll be hard for me to wrap my head around human economics, much less alien currency debacles when I take Economics next year.

 

[TGTheodore]

Um ... I think the answer is ... twelve. No, wait. Seven! No, that's too low ... 8.72.

--Ted

 

[RedFenix]

It reminds me of the test questions my grade 11 and 13 physics teacher used to give. Taking tests in those classes was actually fun just to see how he would phrase the questions.

I write all my own tests for that very reason. Gives the kids something to smirk over while pounding their heads in frustration.

 

[Gryffindorian]

The answer is -6.5%^$10.