The Master Gunner Question Two

[robinghewitt]

Attention in class, the Master Gunner Examination of 1380, question two.

This one's real easy, but after reading the answers to question one I'm not getting my hopes up ::

Another question is: is it the saltpetre or the sulphur which imparts the impetus to drive the stone ball?

 

[musketman]

It beith thee saltpetre...
Otherwise thy brimstone duth not burnith...

 

[Slowpoke]

Agreed :redthumb:

 

[robinghewitt]

FAILED :crackup: :crackup: :crackup:

 

[Musketeer]

"Squire" is a thing of the past. It's now "Headmaster" Hewitt! :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :thumbsup:

By the way, I'd have guessed saltpetre also. Oh, well......

 

[robinghewitt]

But you have the benefit of 624 years R&D since the exam was first set, you have to think 1380 ::

It gets worse.

The Headmaster
GHH

 

[Musketeer]

you have to think 1380

If that's the case, then it's neither the saltpetre nor the sulfur! I agree with Stumpy: It's those darned unpredictable spirits that make the stone fly! :shocking: :crackup: :thumbsup:

 

[Chickenfax]

Nope, the answer lies in the fact that the stone being part of earth and the saltpeter and sulfer being part of fire are opposites and therefore repel. The stone wants to be closer to the earth and so flings intself out of the barrel away from the fire to reach its destiny. :youcrazy:

According to 1380 philosophy.

:blah:

 

[robinghewitt]

Goodness gracious me, I really didn't expect anyone to get it. You are sooooo close :master: :master: :master:

 

[Musketeer]

Bwaaaaaak!!

Very similar to the sound made by the stone, just before it flings itself out of the barrel. :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :thumbsup:

Headmaster Hewitt, can I go home now, sir? These questions are too hard. :cry:

 

[musketman]

Nope, the answer lies in the fact that the stone being part of earth and the saltpeter and sulfer being part of fire are opposites and therefore repel.

Maybe we should be using Occam's Razor on these answers...

Sulfur is earth too, earth pushes earth...

 

[Musketeer]

Maybe we should be using Occman's Razor on these answers...

Stick to the subject! If'n ye wants ta talk 'bout razors, go to the thread on beards! :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :thumbsup:

 

[Chickenfax]

Aha!! But that is why the stone remains in the barrel in the first place. The sulfur being part of the earth. But when fire is applied to the sulfur saltpeter mixture its like... breaking a magnet in half, the two ends near the break repel.

I knew the philosophy of physics class would come in handy someday...

Click...bwaaaaaak

 

[musketman]

Maybe we should be using Occman's Razor on these answers...

Stick to the subject! If'n ye wants ta talk 'bout razors, go to the thread on beards! :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :thumbsup:

Occam's razor is a logical principle attributed to the mediaeval philosopher William of Occam (or Ockham). The principle states that one should not make more assumptions than the minimum needed. This principle is often called the principle of parsimony. It underlies all scientific modelling and theory building. It admonishes us to choose from a set of otherwise equivalent models of a given phenomenon the simplest one.

 

[robinghewitt]

Sulfur is earth too

Who told you that? ::

 

[musketman]

It is mined from within mother earth, ergo, born from earth...

 

[musketman]

Next question... :winking:

 

[Slowpoke]

<------ Slowpoke

 

It is mined from within mother earth, ergo, born from earth...

Nay , with the saltpeter ye knoweth NOTHING should fly from ye barrel :cry:

 

[Zonie]

It would be the Sulphur as Sulphur is the very brimstone of the demon Satan!
Satans Brimstone, allied with fire, forces the holy things of this earth to soar to the heavens to escape! :imo: