Silliness Quiz - Page 579

red_phoenix · 08-09-2012, 10:57 AM

Were they triplets or quadruplets?

issybird · 08-09-2012, 10:58 AM

Because of the wrinkle in the change from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar in the English-speaking world? I think it was December 31, 1750, which was followed by January 1, 1750. It didn't turn to 1751 until March, so there was a period from January 1 to mid-March where there were two for 1750.

issybird · 08-09-2012, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red_pheonix

Were they triplets or quadruplets?

Hah! Good one.

pdurrant · 08-09-2012, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

Because of the wrinkle in the change from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar in the English-speaking world? I think it was December 31, 1750, which was followed by January 1, 1750. It didn't turn to 1751 until March, so there was a period from January 1 to mid-March where there were two for 1750.

That worked the other way around. There are some dates that didn't happen in England.

* 3rd September 1752 to 13th September 1752 (inclusive) didn't happen. The day after the 2nd September 1752 was 14th September 1752.
* 1st January 1751 to 24th March 1751 didn't happen. 31st December 1751 was followed by 1st January 1752. The previous January was 1st January 1750.

In practice, the 25th March New Year had been declining in common use for years, and the 1752 change made the change official. (Scotland switched to 1st January for the new year in 1600!)

But there aren't any two days in England that had the date.

issybird · 08-09-2012, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daithi

No, but you are on the right tract.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

That worked the other way around. There are some dates that didn't happen in England.

* 3rd September 1752 to 13th September 1752 (inclusive) didn't happen. The day after the 2nd September 1752 was 14th September 1752.
* 1st January 1751 to 24th March 1751 didn't happen. 31st December 1751 was followed by 1st January 1752. The previous January was 1st January 1750.

In practice, the 25th March New Year had been declining in common use for years, and the 1752 change made the change official. (Scotland switched to 1st January for the new year in 1600!)

But there aren't any two days in England that had the date.

Must think things through.

pheonix got it, of course.

Daithi · 08-09-2012, 11:47 AM

I'm a little late in getting here, but pheonix has the correct solution.

Like I said, I missed it too, and had to read the answer.

Take it away pheonix.

orlok · 08-09-2012, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daithi

Since no one has asked a quiz, here is a quick one to get things restarted.

A woman gave birth to two sons who were born in the same hour of the same day of the same year, but they were not twins. How is this possible?

They were part of a set of triplets?

Oh bum. Should have noticed there was another page of posts...

red_phoenix · 08-09-2012, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orlok

They were part of a set of triplets?

Oh bum. Should have noticed there was another page of posts...

I hate it when that happens Orlok. I do not have a quiz ready and if you do please go ahead.

orlok · 08-09-2012, 12:19 PM

Ok, a quickie, as I saw this recently and would like to know the answer myself (I saw it, but didn't believe...).

How many moons does the Earth have?

pdurrant · 08-09-2012, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orlok

Ok, a quickie, as I saw this recently and would like to know the answer myself (I saw it, but didn't believe...).

How many moons does the Earth have?

It depends on how you define "moon". The answer could be 0, 1, 2 or more.

Zero: Earth and Luna could be considered a double-planet, not a planet & moon.
One: Well, obviously!
Two: If you define a moon to be any object with a linked orbit, 3753 Cruithne would be a second moon, as QI once tried to assert.
More: There are almost certainly other objects with orbits around the sun like Cruithne's. And then there are all the artificial moons we've put in orbit around the Earth!

Daithi · 08-09-2012, 01:36 PM

I say it is zero. The moons of all the planets are in a tug of war with the sun over their moons. In the case of all the rest of the planets the sun is always losing that tug of war. However, in the case of the earth and moon, the sun is sometimes winning the tug of war, so therefore the earth and moon are really a double-planet. The earth doesn't have a moon.

Edit: Now that I have answered the question I went and used Google -- I've now changed my mind, but since I've Googled I can't tell you why.

orlok · 08-09-2012, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

It depends on how you define "moon". The answer could be 0, 1, 2 or more.

Zero: Earth and Luna could be considered a double-planet, not a planet & moon.
One: Well, obviously!
Two: If you define a moon to be any object with a linked orbit, 3753 Cruithne would be a second moon, as QI once tried to assert.
More: There are almost certainly other objects with orbits around the sun like Cruithne's. And then there are all the artificial moons we've put in orbit around the Earth!

Well the answer in the quiz I took was 2, but they didn't explain why, so I guess they were going with the 3753 Cruithne idea. And given what it says in your the link, it looks like the answer is one, so I was right

. Over to you Paul.

Daithi · 08-09-2012, 03:51 PM

In case anyone was curious, the earth and moon would be a double planet if the criteria for a double planet is that the Sun exerted more gravitational draw on the "moon" than did its planet. This was Isaac Asimov's definition. See Wikipedia Double Planet. However, the normal definition is that a double planet is one where the centre of mass (the barycenter) is not inside one of the planets. See this Wikipedia entry.

pdurrant · 08-09-2012, 06:18 PM

What is the link between all the following:

Bath
Grimstock
Hide Parke
Mayden Lane
New castle
Pauls Wharfe

Bookpossum · 08-09-2012, 07:01 PM

I seem to remember a piece of Renaissance music called Pauls Wharfe (Giles Farnaby?) so are they all place names that appear in early music - hence the interesting spelling?

08-09-2012, 01:36 PM	#8681
Daithi Publishers are evil! Posts: 2,418 Karma: 36205264 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Rhode Island Device: Various Kindles	I say it is zero. The moons of all the planets are in a tug of war with the sun over their moons. In the case of all the rest of the planets the sun is always losing that tug of war. However, in the case of the earth and moon, the sun is sometimes winning the tug of war, so therefore the earth and moon are really a double-planet. The earth doesn't have a moon. Edit: Now that I have answered the question I went and used Google -- I've now changed my mind, but since I've Googled I can't tell you why. Last edited by Daithi; 08-09-2012 at 01:41 PM.

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08-09-2012, 10:57 AM	#8671
red_phoenix Grand Sorcerer Posts: 18,417 Karma: 445850508 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Sony PRS-T1	Were they triplets or quadruplets?

08-09-2012, 10:58 AM	#8672
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,329 Karma: 234636059 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	Because of the wrinkle in the change from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar in the English-speaking world? I think it was December 31, 1750, which was followed by January 1, 1750. It didn't turn to 1751 until March, so there was a period from January 1 to mid-March where there were two for 1750.

08-09-2012, 11:47 AM	#8676
Daithi Publishers are evil! Posts: 2,418 Karma: 36205264 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Rhode Island Device: Various Kindles	I'm a little late in getting here, but pheonix has the correct solution. Like I said, I missed it too, and had to read the answer. Take it away pheonix.

08-09-2012, 12:19 PM	#8679
orlok Close to the Edit! Posts: 9,797 Karma: 267994408 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis, Amazon Fire 8", Kindle 6"	Ok, a quickie, as I saw this recently and would like to know the answer myself (I saw it, but didn't believe...). How many moons does the Earth have?

08-09-2012, 03:51 PM	#8683
Daithi Publishers are evil! Posts: 2,418 Karma: 36205264 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Rhode Island Device: Various Kindles	In case anyone was curious, the earth and moon would be a double planet if the criteria for a double planet is that the Sun exerted more gravitational draw on the "moon" than did its planet. This was Isaac Asimov's definition. See Wikipedia Double Planet. However, the normal definition is that a double planet is one where the centre of mass (the barycenter) is not inside one of the planets. See this Wikipedia entry.

08-09-2012, 06:18 PM	#8684
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 74,045 Karma: 315160596 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	What is the link between all the following: Bath Grimstock Hide Parke Mayden Lane New castle Pauls Wharfe

08-09-2012, 07:01 PM	#8685
Bookpossum Snoozing in the sun Posts: 10,146 Karma: 115423645 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: iPad Mini, Kobo Touch	I seem to remember a piece of Renaissance music called Pauls Wharfe (Giles Farnaby?) so are they all place names that appear in early music - hence the interesting spelling?

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