Physics Riddles with Anne Wojcicki

Where does the explorer end up after walking a mile south, a mile east, and a mile north?

• In a different location

• Back at the starting point

• At the North Pole

• At the South Pole

What is another possible location where the explorer could end up in the same spot after the journey?

• Anywhere on the equator

• A mile north of a point where walking east a mile forms a full circle

• At the South Pole

• At the prime meridian

What concept allows for multiple solutions to the first riddle?

• Walking in circles at specific latitudes

• The concept of latitude and longitude

• The curvature of the Earth

• The Earth's magnetic field

In the second riddle, what is the setup involving the spool?

• The spool is suspended in the air

• The spool is fixed and cannot move

• The spool is free to slide

• The spool can only roll due to friction

When the spool is pulled to the left with the rope parallel to the ground, what happens?

• The spool does not move

• The spool rolls to the right and unwinds

• The spool slides to the left

• The spool rolls to the left and winds up