Can you solve the airplane riddle? - Judd A. Schorr
-
0:07 - 0:11Professor Fukanō, the famous
eccentric scientist and adventurer, -
0:11 - 0:13has embarked on a new challenge:
-
0:13 - 0:18flying around the world nonstop
in a plane of his own design. -
0:18 - 0:22Able to travel consistently at the
incredible speed of one degree longitude -
0:22 - 0:25around the equator per minute,
-
0:25 - 0:29the plane would take six hours
to circle the world. -
0:29 - 0:30There's just one problem:
-
0:30 - 0:34the plane can only hold 180 kiloliters
of fuel, -
0:34 - 0:38only enough for exactly half the journey.
-
0:38 - 0:38Let's be honest.
-
0:38 - 0:42The professor probably could have
designed the plane to hold more fuel, -
0:42 - 0:44but where's the fun in that?
-
0:44 - 0:48Instead, he's devised a slightly more
elaborate solution: -
0:48 - 0:52building three identical planes
for the mission. -
0:52 - 0:53In addition to their speed,
-
0:53 - 0:57the professor's equipped them
with a few other incredible features. -
0:57 - 0:59Each of the planes can turn on a dime
-
0:59 - 1:04and instantly transfer any amount
of its fuel to any of the others in midair -
1:04 - 1:05without slowing down,
-
1:05 - 1:08provided they're next to each other.
-
1:08 - 1:10The professor will pilot the first plane,
-
1:10 - 1:15while his two assistants Fugōri
and Orokana will pilot each of the others. -
1:15 - 1:18However, only one airport,
located on the equator, -
1:18 - 1:21has granted permission for the experiment,
-
1:21 - 1:22making it the starting point,
-
1:22 - 1:23the finish line,
-
1:23 - 1:26and the only spot where
the planes can land, -
1:26 - 1:27takeoff,
-
1:27 - 1:29or refuel on the ground.
-
1:29 - 1:31How should the three planes coordinate
-
1:31 - 1:35so the professor can fly continuously
for the whole trip and achieve his dream -
1:35 - 1:39without anyone running out
of fuel and crashing? -
1:39 - 1:42Pause here if you want
to figure it out for yourself. -
1:42 - 1:44Answer in: 3
-
1:44 - 1:45Answer in: 2
-
1:45 - 1:46Answer in: 1
-
1:46 - 1:48According to the professor's calculations,
-
1:48 - 1:51they should be able to pull it off
by a hair. -
1:51 - 1:55The key is to maximize the support
each assistant provides, -
1:55 - 1:59not wasting a single kiloliter of fuel.
-
1:59 - 2:01It also helps us to think symmetrically
-
2:01 - 2:04so they can make shorter trips
in either direction -
2:04 - 2:08while setting the professor up for a long
unsupported stretch in the middle. -
2:08 - 2:10Here's his solution.
-
2:10 - 2:13All three planes take off at noon
flying west, -
2:13 - 2:16each fully loaded with 180 kiloliters.
-
2:16 - 2:20After 45 minutes, or one-eighth
of the way around, -
2:20 - 2:23each plane has 135 kiloliters left.
-
2:23 - 2:28Orokana gives 45 to the professor
and 45 to Fugōri, -
2:28 - 2:30fully refueling them both.
-
2:30 - 2:33With her remaining 45,
Orokana returns to the airport -
2:33 - 2:37and heads to the lounge
for a well-deserved break. -
2:37 - 2:4045 minutes later, with one-quarter
of the trip complete, -
2:40 - 2:45the professor and Fugōri
are both at 135 kiloliters again. -
2:45 - 2:49Fugōri transfers 45
into the professor's tank, -
2:49 - 2:52leaving himself with the 90
he needs to return. -
2:52 - 2:55Professor Fukanō stretches
and puts on his favorite album. -
2:55 - 2:57He'll be alone for a while.
-
2:57 - 3:01In the meantime, Orokana has been
anxiously awaiting Fugōri's return, -
3:01 - 3:05her plane fully refueled and ready to go.
-
3:05 - 3:11As soon as his plane touches the ground,
she takes off, this time flying east. -
3:11 - 3:14At this point, exactly 180 minutes
have passed -
3:14 - 3:17and the professor is at the halfway point
of his journey -
3:17 - 3:20with 90 kiloliters of fuel left.
-
3:20 - 3:22For the next 90 minutes,
-
3:22 - 3:25the professor and Orokana's planes
fly towards each other, -
3:25 - 3:28meeting at the three-quarter mark.
-
3:28 - 3:30Just as the professor's fuel
is about the run out, -
3:30 - 3:32he sees Orokana's plane.
-
3:32 - 3:35She gives him 45 kiloliters
of her remaining 90, -
3:35 - 3:38leaving them with 45 each.
-
3:38 - 3:41But that's just half of what they need
to make it to the airport. -
3:41 - 3:47Fortunately, this is exactly when Fugōri,
having refueled, takes off. -
3:47 - 3:5145 minutes later, just as the other two
planes are about to run empty, -
3:51 - 3:54he meets them at the 315 degree point
-
3:54 - 4:00and transfers 45 kiloliters of fuel
to each, leaving 45 for himself. -
4:00 - 4:05All three planes land at the airport
just as their fuel gauges reach zero. -
4:05 - 4:07As the reporters and photographers cheer,
-
4:07 - 4:12the professor promises his planes will
soon be available for commercial flights, -
4:12 - 4:15just as soon as they figure out how
to keep their inflight meals -
4:15 - 4:17from spilling everywhere.
- Title:
- Can you solve the airplane riddle? - Judd A. Schorr
- Speaker:
- Judd A. Schorr
- Description:
-
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/can-you-solve-the-airplane-riddle-judd-a-schorr
Professor Fukanō, the famous scientist, has embarked on a new challenge – piloting around the world in a plane of his own design. There’s just one problem: there's not enough fuel to complete the journey. Luckily, there are two other planes to help. Can you help the professor fly for the whole trip and achieve his dream, without anyone running out of fuel and crashing? Judd A. Schorr shows how.
Lesson by Judd A. Schorr, animation by Artrake Studio.
- Video Language:
- English
- Team:
closed TED
- Project:
- TED-Ed
- Duration:
- 04:38
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Jessica Ruby approved English subtitles for Can you solve the airplane riddle? | |
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Jessica Ruby accepted English subtitles for Can you solve the airplane riddle? | |
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Jessica Ruby edited English subtitles for Can you solve the airplane riddle? | |
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Jennifer Cody edited English subtitles for Can you solve the airplane riddle? |