Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Can you solve this week's puzzler?

View in browser »
This Week's Puzzler

The New Pulley

It is time for the new puzzler. This puzzler is automotive in nature. 

Here we go.

This involves one of our mechanics, Crusty. We talk about him a lot. 

A long time ago Crusty is at the end of his workday, and he's over in the parking lot with his truck. He had a '55 Chevy. And he's trying to pry off the pulley for the generator.

And I said to him, "What are you doing?" 

He says, "I'm sick and tired of having a dead battery all the time. This generator doesn't turn fast enough, and as a result, it doesn't charge the battery at low speed, which is all I do. I drive around town. I've got the headlights on, the radio, the heated seat, CD player. Generator doesn't produce enough electricity. The battery gets weaker and weaker, until one morning I come out and the battery is dead. It happens every couple of weeks in the winter and I'm sick of it. So I'm gonna replace it with a pulley that's half the size, so that when this thing isn't running at idle speed or around town, it will charge my battery. What do you think?"

So I say, "Go for it." You know, it isn't my truck. And I wanna see what happens. 

So, he does it. 

Then, about a week later, he is forced to take a little trip on the highway. He has to visit his mother. So, he gets on the highway. 

On the way back, something happens that he and I should have been able to predict as a consequence of this new pulley he installed. 

And that is today's puzzler. What happened to Crusty and his truck on the way back as a consequence of the new pully in his generator. 

Good luck.
Answer the Puzzler »
Remember last week's puzzler?

Citizens

Two girls are born of the same parents in Boston, Massachusetts, obviously not at the same time, otherwise they'd be twins. They are not twins. 

One of them is a citizen of the United States, and the other is not.

How could this be?

So, to be clear, they were both born in Boston, Massachusetts, one of them is a citizen of the United States, and the other one is not a citizen of the United States.

And the second one, she has not given up her citizenship to the United States, she did not renounce her citizenship or anything like that. 

How is this possible
Find out here »
Facebook Twitter Instagram website@cartalk.com
Cartalk.com Community
This Week's Show Podcast
Add to address book Unsubscribe from list
Email preferences Shameless Commerce
Care of WBUR, 890 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
Contents © 2024, Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe.
powered by emma

Monday, August 12, 2024

Can you solve this week's puzzler?

View in browser »
This Week's Puzzler

Citizens

Time for the new puzzler. 

Here it is.

Two girls are born of the same parents in Boston, Massachusetts, obviously not at the same time, otherwise they'd be twins. They are not twins. 

One of them is a citizen of the United States, and the other is not.

How could this be?

So, to be clear, they were both born in Boston, Massachusetts, one of them is a citizen of the United States, and the other one is not a citizen of the United States.

And the second one, she has not given up her citizenship to the United States, she did not renounce her citizenship or anything like that. 

How is this possible?

Good luck.
Answer the Puzzler »
Remember last week's puzzler?

Electrons

This one is automotive, but it involves cars from back in the day. This one involve cars that you need a physical key to start. Most of you remember that, right? 

We all know how it used to be. When you get into the car to start, you put the key in the ignition, you turn the key, and electricity is then directed from the battery to the starter motor. And of course, it makes a complete path and goes back to the battery. 

In fact, electrons begin their migration from the negative terminal of the battery, into the starter motor and then back into the battery. So that is how the flow of electricty takes place when you start a car. 

Now knowing that, here is the puzzler.

If an electron were to start out at the negative, right at the negative terminal, at the battery sitting there, right? And you have 10 feet of battery cables, like 5 feet from the battery to the starter motor and 5 feet back, how long does it take a single electron starting from the negative battery terminal to reach the positive terminal? That is, to make the whole circuit?
Find out here »
Facebook Twitter Instagram website@cartalk.com
Cartalk.com Community
This Week's Show Podcast
Add to address book Unsubscribe from list
Email preferences Shameless Commerce
Care of WBUR, 890 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
Contents © 2024, Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe.
powered by emma