Physics Riddle

[Shantanu]

You are in a long tunnel in a spaceship. There is no gravity. The diameter of the tunnel is about 16 feet. You are in the center of the tunnel, and are not presently moving. There's an unfriendly alien at the end of the tunnel, 500 feet away, that is closing in on your position. Fortunatly, there is an escape vessel docked at the other end of the tunnel about 40 feet away from your position. Unfortunatly, you cannot reach the ladder on the walls of the tunnel. You have no rocket propulsion device on you, nor any sort of weapon. How do you get out?

 

[rippy]

well, since I'm in a "spaceship," I'll just fly to the ladder... LOL

I assume you meant "spacesuit?" hehe

in the case of said "spacesuit" I have no clue.

 

[BigSmooth]

Get out and push the ship towards the alien. You will go towards the escape vessel.

 

[HonkeyDonk]

You guys should read the riddle more carefully. You are IN a spaceship, more accurately, you're in a tunnel/hallway of the spaceship.

Rippy: He meant spaceship, not spacesuit.

Bigsmooth: You can't "get out" and push the spaceship since you aren't in a spaceship inside the tunnel, you're just floating in the tunnel that's part of a big spaceship.

If you had a lot of gas, you could fart your way over to the escape pod

 

[mryellow2]

Take off your shoe and throw it in the direction opposite of the ladder.

 

[BigSmooth]

Ah, I see. Then blow in the direction of the alien. Much slower, but you would move the other way!
Edit: assuming there is air in the tunnel and you do not have a mask or anything on. The clothes-throwing thing is good, too. Hehe.

 

[raptor13]

Start spitting, farting, burping - ANYTHING to move mass - in the direction opposite you want to travel in (I'm assuming towards the wall so you can get to the ladder). Of course, if the space suit is airtight, you'd best start ripping pieces off of it and throwing them away from you in order to accomplish the same goal.


That's all I can think of....

 

[rippy]

HonkeyDonk: doh, you're so right! haha

*proudly wears his dunce cap*

 

[Shantanu]

<< Take off your shoe and throw it in the direction opposite of the ladder. >>



Damn, that was quick. A little too quick.

All you have on you is the stylin' clothes you bought at the Banana Republic, and your trusty Doc Marten shoes. You take off your shoes and toss them in the direction of the wall that is opposite to the ladder. That will send you flying towards the ladder. For added momentum, you might even catch your shoes after they bounce off the wall. Once you're on the ladder, you can pull hard on that bad-boy and it'll send you flying towards the escape vessel.

Alternatly, you can take of your shoes and toss them right at that bastard alien, though that might be a risky gamble if you don't toss them hard enough

 

[Haircut]

You would have to be careful when throwing your shoe though. If you raised it above you head and threw you could just end up spinning.

 

[mryellow2]

Reminded me of a puzzle I read back in the 5th grade. Guy gets stranded on a frozen lake with nothing but his clothes. If he stands or gets on his hands and knees the ice breaks. How does he get to shore and safety?

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

<< Reminded me of a puzzle I read back in the 5th grade. Guy gets stranded on a frozen lake with nothing but his clothes. If he stands or gets on his hands and knees the ice breaks. How does he get to shore and safety? >>



He doesn't, he'll freeze to death when he takes off his clothes while lying on the ice. Or he'll start shivering uncontrollably, thus breaking the ice.


And about the spaceship: Either it's a very slow moving alien, or he'll have digested you before you reached the ladder.