Heard this one on an Economist podcast discussing brain waves and insights.
You’re on the ground floor and there are three light switches.
One of the light switches turns on a light bulb in a room on the second floor, the other two are duds.
You may visit the second floor only once.
How can you determine which switch controls the light bulb?
Are you alone?
oh aye 
Yes, you’re alone, and popping outside to check a window is not the solution.
[quote=“Jaboney”]Heard this one on an Economist podcast discussing brain waves and insights.[/quote]They’re not exactly up to date, are they? It requires an old fashioned heat producing bulb. because involves touching the light bulb to feel if it’s warm, I can’t be bothered working out the exact sequence.
[quote]You’re on the ground floor and there are three light switches.
One of the light switches turns on a light bulb in a room on the second floor, the other two are duds.[/quote]Taiwanese electricians eh?
Turn switch 1 on for a few minutes, then off
Turn switch 2 on, then go into room
Bulb is on: answer is switch 2
Bulb is off but warm: 1
Bulb is cold: 3
But what if the bulb was already on before you started? Eh? Eh?
Not so clever now, are we, badger tickler!
[quote=“Big Fluffy Matthew”]Turn switch 1 on for a few minutes, then off
Turn switch 2 on, then go into room
Bulb is on: answer is switch 2
[color=#FF0000]Bulb is off but warm: 1
Bulb is off and cold: 3[/color][/quote]
Fixed.
Bingo.
[quote=“irishstu”][quote=“Big Fluffy Matthew”]Turn switch 1 on for a few minutes, then off
Turn switch 2 on, then go into room
Bulb is on: answer is switch 2
[color=#FF0000]Bulb is off but warm: 1
Bulb is off and cold: 3[/color][/quote]
Fixed.[/quote]That’s what I said after I edited it.
And BFM’s a smart cookie. I’m not sure I would’ve ever thought of that.
[quote=“Stray Dog”]But what if the bulb was already on before you started? Eh? Eh?
Not so clever now, are we, badger tickler![/quote]
What if, like, the world is like, a big giant space potato?
damn I got the munchies…
Mmmmmm…
potatoes
I can’t think of any good riddles, but I’m bored.
Learned this one watching The Bear. (Or whatever it’s called.)
How do you make fire from ice?
[quote=“Jaboney”]I can’t think of any good riddles, but I’m bored.
Learned this one watching The Bear. (Or whatever it’s called.)
How do you make fire from ice?[/quote]
Use the ice as a magnifying glass to concentrate sunlight on something combustible?
is there a deodorant or aftershave called ice?
If there’s not, there damn well should be.
[quote=“irishstu”][quote=“Jaboney”]I can’t think of any good riddles, but I’m bored.
Learned this one watching The Bear. (Or whatever it’s called.)
How do you make fire from ice?[/quote]
Use the ice as a magnifying glass to concentrate sunlight on something combustible?[/quote]
Yeppers.
sigh
My brain’s done for the day.
Try our Ice,
It smells really nice.
And at a great price!