Hell Freezes over

**jenae** · 08-11-2009, 02:19 AM

Hi, this was emailed to me so I do not know the truth of it still it is a hoot:-

Quote:

The following is an actual question given on a University

of Washington chemistry mid term.

The answer by one student was so 'profound' that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which, of course, is why we now have the pleasure
of enjoying it as well:

Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?

Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle 's Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant.

One student, however, wrote the following:

First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving. As for how many souls are entering Hell, let's look at the different religions that exist in the world today.

Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle 's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.

This gives two possibilities:

1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.

2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.

So which is it?

If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman year that, 'It will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you,' and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then number two must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over! The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct......leaving only Heaven, thereby proving the existence of a divine being which explains why, last night, Teresa kept shouting 'Oh my God.'
THIS STUDENT RECEIVED AN A+

Mcninjaguy · 08-11-2009, 03:49 AM

I love it when people give a colorful analysis over a subject that is usually so asinine.

**WereBo** · 08-11-2009, 06:21 AM

.

**beefers1** · 08-11-2009, 08:32 PM

According to this (http://www.snopes.com/college/exam/hell.asp) that story isn't real. Interesting all the same, though.

**zuluclayman** · 08-12-2009, 02:49 AM

yup, I had this one last year - whether it's true or not doesn't really matter - it's funny anyways. i sent it on to the science faculty at the school I work at and they all enjoyed it too

ebackhus · 08-12-2009, 11:32 PM

Actually...

Feb 3, 1985. My wife came into the world and San Antonio received a record 9 inches of snow.

Hell froze over the day my wife was born.

**zuluclayman** · 08-13-2009, 03:43 AM

**WereBo** · 08-13-2009, 05:45 AM

Ditto

.....

**Cathy95820** · 08-15-2009, 11:20 AM

08-11-2009, 03:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Hell Freezes over I love it when people give a colorful analysis over a subject that is usually so asinine.

08-11-2009, 06:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
WereBo Resident Village Idiot Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SE London, UK Posts: 14,570 OS: Win-7, XP-Pro SP3 My System	Re: Hell Freezes over . __________________ I shall meet all of my deadlines directly in proportion to the amount of bodily injury I could expect to receive from missing them.

08-11-2009, 08:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
beefers1 Below is my avatar Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Greater Vancouver area, BC, Canada Posts: 4,039 OS: Win XP Pro SP2 My System Blog Entries: 13	Re: Hell Freezes over According to this (http://www.snopes.com/college/exam/hell.asp) that story isn't real. Interesting all the same, though. __________________

08-12-2009, 02:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
zuluclayman Design Team Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Newcastle, Australia Posts: 3,049 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium My System	Re: Hell Freezes over yup, I had this one last year - whether it's true or not doesn't really matter - it's funny anyways. i sent it on to the science faculty at the school I work at and they all enjoyed it too __________________ AutoGordianKnot Audacity K-Lite codec pack Irfan View GSpot TSF Photographer's Corner

08-12-2009, 11:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,321 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Re: Hell Freezes over Actually... Feb 3, 1985. My wife came into the world and San Antonio received a record 9 inches of snow. Hell froze over the day my wife was born. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

08-13-2009, 03:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
zuluclayman Design Team Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Newcastle, Australia Posts: 3,049 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium My System	Re: Hell Freezes over __________________ AutoGordianKnot Audacity K-Lite codec pack Irfan View GSpot TSF Photographer's Corner

08-13-2009, 05:45 AM	#8 (permalink)
WereBo Resident Village Idiot Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SE London, UK Posts: 14,570 OS: Win-7, XP-Pro SP3 My System	Re: Hell Freezes over Ditto ..... __________________ I shall meet all of my deadlines directly in proportion to the amount of bodily injury I could expect to receive from missing them.

08-15-2009, 11:20 AM	#9 (permalink)
Cathy95820 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,371 OS: Windows XP Svs.Pk 3	Re: Hell Freezes over __________________ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * We are but a moment's sunlight fading in the grass... * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *