Microsoft Interview Question

[soniikboom]

Hey Guys,

Just wondering if anyone knew the answer to this question:


Consider a bicycle as shown in the picture below. It is perfectly normal except for a piece of string caught in the rear wheel. If we pull the string in the direction P, will the bicycle move forward, move backward, or 'stay put'? Assume that the wheel does not slip on the ground.

I think the answer is "backwards" but I'm not sure why. Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[mzkhadir]

the picture would help a lot

 

[fs5]

picture would be nice.. as to show what direction P is.

 

[mzkhadir]

edit posted twice

 

[Hyperblaze]

where the hell is the piece of string caught in the rear wheel?

on the top part of the wheel? the lower part of the wheel?

it makes the entire difference in the world

 

[ActuaryTm]

Originally posted by: mzkhadir
the picture would help a lot

soniikboom is definitely Microsoft material, no?

 

[ngvepforever2]

Originally posted by: ActuaryTm

Originally posted by: mzkhadir
the picture would help a lot

soniikboom is definitely Microsoft material, no?

 

[Hyperblaze]

Originally posted by: ActuaryTm

Originally posted by: mzkhadir
the picture would help a lot

soniikboom is definitely Microsoft material, no?

rotfl.

nice one

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: ActuaryTm

Originally posted by: mzkhadir
the picture would help a lot

soniikboom is definitely Microsoft material, no?

rofl!

 

[quakefiend420]

umm...wtf?

pic or ban?

 

[soniikboom]

Woops sorry about that. Here's the link:

Bicycle Tugging Question

Scroll down towards the bottom to the "Bicycle Tugging" question. (Sorry I can't post the link directly to the picture for some reason.)

Thanks a lot.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: ActuaryTm

Originally posted by: mzkhadir
the picture would help a lot

soniikboom is definitely Microsoft material, no?

 

[OutHouse]

how the hell are we suppose to answer that with out seeing the picture.

put the test down, you already failed. Apple will take you.

 

[Goosemaster]

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~wwu/images/riddles/bicycle_tugging.jpg

 

[dighn]

wow

just wow

 

[Drakkon]

most likely this picture:
http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~wwu/images/riddles/bicycle_tugging.jpg

 

[Goosemaster]

stay put

 

[isekii]

Microsoft: Let's get down to business. Can you create a BSOD ?
You: Yes (confindently)
Microsoft: You're hired!

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~wwu/images/riddles/bicycle_tugging.jpg

how do you get this wrong?

 

[soniikboom]

stay put? why?

 

[mzkhadir]

I think the bike would move forward, but I think it has something to do with the force of the string pull.

because of the direction of the pull. It would not go backwards because the wheel is spinning forward and the bike will go forward.

 

[fs5]

it's foward.

 

[OulOat]

Forwards...

 

[soniikboom]

Why is it forward?

I think its harder than it seems.

 

[Hyperblaze]

i'd vote for going opposite of p. If it was a much smaller object, i would vote for the same direction as p