Re: FW: Thermodynamics of Hell

Sir,
http://www.snopes.com/college/exam/hell.asp

Niki Techen wrote:

>Just a little joke from me :-)
>
>Kind regards,
>Tekken
>
>
> The following is an actual exam question given on a University of
>Washington chemistry mid-term. The answer by one student was so
>"profound" that the professor shared it with colleagues,  via the
>Internet, which is, of course, why we have the  pleasure of enjoying it
>as well.
>
> Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or  Endothermic
>(absorbs heat)?
>
> Most of the students wrote proofs of their belief using Boyle's Law
>(Gas  cools off when it expands and heats up when it is compressed.) or
>some  variant.
>
> One student, however, wrote the following:
>
> "First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we
>need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate
>that they are leaving."
>
> "I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it
>will not leave. Therefore no souls are leaving."
>
> "As for how many souls are entering Hell, lets look at the different
>religions that exist in the world today. Some of these religions state
>  that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell.
>Since
>  there   are more than one of these religions and since people do not
>belong to more
>  than one religion, we can project that most souls go to Hell." "With
>birth and  death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in
>Hell to  increase exponentially."
>
> "Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because
>Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in
>Hell
>  to stay the same, then Hell must expand proportionately as souls are
>added."
>
>  This gives two possibilities:
> 1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls
>enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase
>until  all Hell breaks loose.
>
> 2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the rate at which souls
>enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell
>freezes  over.
>
>  If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman
>  year, that "it will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you,"
>and
>  take into account the fact that I still have not succeeded in having
>that event
>  take place, then #2 cannot be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is
>  exothermic and will not freeze."
>
>  This student received the only 'A' in the class.
>
>
>
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