Mental Floss 70
The answer to last week’s question is. Q: Manhole covers for sewer drains are typically circular in shape (the ones that are removable anyway). This shape has an important advantage over a square or rectangular shape. What is it?
A: There is no risk of a circular manhole cover falling through the hole as would be the case for a square or rectangular shape which could slide through the diagonal. Another small advantage is that a round manhole cover can be rolled.
This week’s lateral thinking challenge is.
Q: You are in the center of on an island that is a kilometer long and half a kilometer wide. The vegetation is very dry from a long drought. Suddenly it catches fire at one end of the island, and a strong wind is blowing it towards you, burning the whole width of the island. There’s no beach, only steep cliffs, and the sea is full of sharks. What can you do?
The answer and a new challenge, next week.
Have a great weekend!
I would rush to the edge of the fire, steal a piece of burning wood, bring it to the middle, burn right across the half kilometer vegetation, wait in the area for the original fire to get too close to me and watch the area from where I had started the fire being cleared of fire fuel on the second half to which I would go when the original fire reaches the middle. The original fire would not be able to reach me and the second fire would continue to the second edge and die off.
Thank you for a question which is very stimulating!