Posted on 06/14/2006 10:06:00 PM PDT by decal
This has to be right up there among the contenders for the Darwin Awards...
Math Story Problem for the not-so-new century...let's see if our engineering section can solve this one.
A backhoe weighing eight tons is on top of a flatbed trailer and heading east on Interstate 70 near Hays, Kansas. The extended shovel arm is made of hardened refined steel and the approaching overpass is made of commercial-grade concrete, reinforced with 1 1/2 inch steel rebar spaced at 6 inch intervals in a criss-cross pattern layered at 1 foot vertical spacing.
Solve: When the shovel arm hits the overpass, how fast do you have to be going to slice the bridge in half? (Assume no effect for headwind and no braking by the clueless driver...)
Extra Credit: Solve for the time and distance required for the entire rig to come to a complete stop after hitting the overpass at the speed calculated above. (No... you can't consult the driver. He likely had to have his face scraped off the inside of the windshield.)
More pix at:
http://www.pho89.com/i70_damaged_bridge.htm
That's a great candidate for the oops list, if it isn't already posted their.
http://www.micom.net/oops/
I was fine until I got to that last picture. That had a to leave a bruise on someone.
Could you just give us the abridged version please?
Ping
ouch and oi-vey
I am surprised no one has come up with the answer yet
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Answer: PRETTY DARN FAST!!
Tow-backhoe Road?
Groan.
Looks like that Hyundai trailer is wearing "Bridgestone" tires now.
Okay, you've been great, folks. I'm outta here!
The photos would make great marketing for Hyundai heavy equipment. I would have thought there would have been more evident damage to the machine in such an accident. The Hyundai equipment won the battle of the bridge.
That's a good site. Thanks for the laughs.
As long as we're doing math problems, here's one I got in my email today:
Math 1950-2006 (new version)
Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King for $1.58. The counter girl took my $2 and I was digging for my change when I pulled 8 cents from my pocket and gave it to her. She stood there, holding the nickel and 3 pennies, while looking at the screen on her register. I sensed her discomfort and tried to tell her to just give me two quarters, but she hailed the manager for help. While he tried to explain the transaction to her, she stood there and cried. Why do I tell you this?
Because of the evolution in teaching math since the 1950's:
1. Teaching Math In 1950
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit?
2. Teaching Math In 1960
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?
3. Teaching Math In 1970
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit?
4. Teaching Math In 1980
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20.
5. Teaching Math In 1990
A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers. )
6. Teaching Math In 2006
Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara $100. El costo de la producciones es $80.
Well, I just have to add this ... We were moving from San Diego to the Tampa area, I was driving the 24' moving van with a four-wheels-off-the-ground trailer with my '70 Volvo station wagon (145s) on-board when we started under an underpass in Tucson, AZ and I realized our clearance wasn't good enough so I stopped - basically in a tunnel.
It being drive time the cops showed up. Something about blocking traffic.
A cop directed my wife (following in another car) to go through to the other side and wait. She did, waiting with my five year-old daughter and my 2 year-old daughter.
Normally, its "Yes Officer, Yes Sir" (I am always polite to officers - no matter what ...)but with me stuck under the underpass they all of a sudden decided that my wife was "on the run" and put out an APB on her.
I got the truck backed up and was held at gunpoint for over three hours.
She was parked on the other side of the underpass all this time. Now - why I'm telling the story ... It took so long she had to use a diaper so she could pee while she waited and wondered ... ;-) Hee Hee! Sorry, just had to tell this one!
Just so you know - I've never been arrested, we were clearly a family moving, I had a valid DL, insurance, rental receipts, etc. stopped before an obstacle, no accident occurred, and yet we got the 3rd degree. My daughter considered applying to UA in Tucson - where I graduated from. I said, "No". ;-)
And no crap about ending a sentence with a preposition - its too late. Nite. ;-)
ROFL!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.