Jokes?!

I guess the general consensus is that scientists don’t have a sense of humour. Or they do, but it’s all in-jokes and obscure references that you need to study at least 4 years of physics to actually understand what the punch line really is. I remembered cracking a joke in maths class about differentiating e^x. There was silence for about 5 seconds. Then somebody said, “Is that a joke?”

(In case anybody from Atlantic College is reading this, I was also the culprit who wrote about the horse having infinite number of legs on the blackboard, although Irene, my former maths teacher should have guessed. But that was too good a joke to just let pass)

Anyway, when I learnt quantum mechanics some time ago, I got this sort of epiphany because I finally understand one particular joke that I’ve heard. I’m pretty sure most of you will have heard it coz it’s really famous. It’s on how to measure the height of a building using a barometer. There is the original joke, but I’ve found this science joke website a couple of years ago where people just keep adding solutions to the original joke. There’s one about throwing the barometer from the basement and measuring the probability of it being able to quantum tunnel to the top. And then I learnt quantum mechanics, and suddenly it all clicked.

Anyway, if you’re into science jokes, or just want to see what sad bunch of people scientists are, hehe, then just check the website (or alternatively just type ‘science joke’ in google). Then you can either double up in bubbling laughter or shook your head sympathetically. Enjoy!

Here is a version of the original barometer joke for your perusal : ]

There's the Physics student who got the following question in an exam:


"You are given an accurate barometer, how would you use it to determine the height of a skyscraper ?"


1: He answered: "Go to the top floor, tie a long piece of string to the barometer, let it down 'till it touches the ground and measure the length of the string".


The examiner wasn't satisfied, so they decided to interview the guy:


"Can you give us another method, one which demonstrates your knowledge of Physics ?"


2: "Sure, go to the top floor, drop the barometer off, and measure how long before it hits the ground......"


"Not, quite what we wanted, care to try again ?"


3: "Make a pendulum of the barometer, measure its period at the bottom, then measure its period at the top......"


"..another try ?...."


4: "Measure the length of the barometer, then mount it vertically on the ground on a sunny day and measure its shadow, measure the shadow of the skyscraper....."


"....and again ?...."


5: "walk up the stairs and use the barometer as a ruler to measure the height of the walls in the stairwells."


"...One more try ?"


6: "Find where the janitor lives, knock on his door and say 'Please, Mr Janitor, if I give you this nice Barometer, will you tell me the height of this building ?"

Yaz, whose trying to be cheeky...unsuccessfully.