Skip to main content

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

The Italian Job - what happened next? (Science competition)

KJB, 30 October, 2008 at 19:50 Posted on Off Topic Posts 0 7

Saved

Reply

Report
Hide content

The Royal Society of Chemistry are running a competition to decide what happened after Michael Caine said "Hang on lads, I've got an idea"

The winner wins a weekend in Turin.

https://www.rsc.org/news-events/articles/2008/10-october/italian-job/

Rules:

Submissions must be based upon the principles of serious scientific rigour
Submissions must include a description of not less than 150 words of the method of rescue, plus detailed image/s to complement the claims.
Entrants must assume that 30 minutes after Croker's declaration the bus will plunge.
Entrants must explain all assumptions made e.g. the individual weights of the passengers, weight of gold bars and the length of the vehicle.
Workings for all maths-based solutions must be demonstrated.
The judges will not accept any solutions that involve the employment of a helicopter.

Report
Hide content

7 replies

Latest activity by KJB, 30 October, 2008 at 22:47

VIP July 2007
hazel · 30 October, 2008 at 19:57
Report

Hide content
The RSC are rather notorious for their gimmicks but this is quite a good one.
- Reply
Beginner
Zebra · 30 October, 2008 at 19:59
Report

Hide content
Oh that's brilliant.

Is there a geek on the planet who's not spent some time discussing this in detail ?
- Reply
Beginner December 2014
Melancholie · 30 October, 2008 at 20:16
Report

Hide content
Oh dear. H is already telling me his ideas!! Must forward this to a few friends...
- Reply
Gryfon · 30 October, 2008 at 20:44
Report

Hide content
Cool! I did ponder this briefly after I saw the film but I don't think I got very far. Actually a JCB came around the corner, handily with a tow rope and pulled them all off the edge ?
- Reply
Beginner December 2007
Flowery the Grouch · 30 October, 2008 at 20:51
Report

Hide content
I'm not thinking about modeling it in phun to see if any of my ideas could work, oh no, not me guv, noooooo, never.
- Reply
VIP July 2007
hazel · 30 October, 2008 at 21:18
Report

Hide content
View quoted message

I was wondering if one could chemically convert the gold to something lighter (or at least less dense) - there has to be a chemical element (no pun intended) if it's RSC surely?
- Reply
Beginner December 2007
Flowery the Grouch · 30 October, 2008 at 21:51
Report

Hide content
View quoted message

Nah, I'm thinking it's all about the density of the gold making it mechanically tricksy.
- Reply

KJB · 30 October, 2008 at 22:47
Report

Hide content
I heard about it on Radio 5 and the chap talking about it suggested something about running the engine and the fuel burning so becoming lighter as possibly introducing chemistry rather then physics.
- Reply

Related articles

Hitched Competition Winners Tie the Knot in £25,000 Dream Wedding — News Hitched Competition Winners Tie the Knot in £25,000 Dream... Kayleigh and Ryan were able to tie the knot *two years* ahead of plan after...

Dream Job Alert: Get Paid to Be a Honeymoon Photographer in the Maldives — News Dream Job Alert: Get Paid to Be a Honeymoon Photographer in... Find out how you could end up living in the Maldives with a friend, taking...

12 Romantic UK Cabin Rentals for Your Next Getaway — Honeymoons 12 Romantic UK Cabin Rentals for Your Next Getaway We've rounded up the best lakeside and forest cabin rentals in the UK, including...

Read more articles