-
If you would like to get your account Verified, read this thread -
The TMF is sponsored by Clips4sale - By supporting them, you're supporting us. -
>>> If you cannot get into your account email me at [email protected] <<<
Don't forget to include your username
Interesting University Exam Questions
- Thread starter socksoff
- Start date
Neutron
Guest
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2001
- Messages
- 3,862
- Points
- 0
The Answer Being Why Not?
That's an urban legend.
One of my favorite exam questions was when I was in United States Navy Nuclear Power School. All the questions required essay answers with proof of assumptions. They were real big about knowing the why's and the how's of the material. So many times they'd teach a concept, then ask questions on tests that weren't inline with the concept, so you'd have to disprove the question. One thing I always loved about Nuke tests is the concept of error carried forward, in other words if you made a math error so long as you knew the concept you wouldn't get penalized the whole question.
So if you accidently hit a decimal point where there was none, but you had the equation correct they'd take off a point for the math error, but give you 19 for the equation. Many of the questions were long and involved.
So one day we're taking a Thermodynamics Exam. Naval nuke school had two exams every other day.
The question is:
A man claims he's invented an engine that rejects heat from a cold source to a hot source (impossible by the way). Is this possible?
Now the Navy wanted a dissertation about the Laws of Thermo which govern work, energy and flow of heat. For some reason the smart ass instinct took over so I answered as follows.
"Yes it's possible for the man to claim whatever he wishes to claim"
Of course I lost all 20 points on the question, however they had a policy that a student could get points back if he could adequately explain his answer in front of the Head Instructor. I appealed and had my hearing. I asked him to read the question and told him it was poorly worded and of course little old me felt the question concerned the mans right to claim whatever he wanted. The head instructor knew otherwise, but of course couldn't prove it. He admitted it was a poorly written question and gave me my 20 points back 🙂
Tron
That's an urban legend.
One of my favorite exam questions was when I was in United States Navy Nuclear Power School. All the questions required essay answers with proof of assumptions. They were real big about knowing the why's and the how's of the material. So many times they'd teach a concept, then ask questions on tests that weren't inline with the concept, so you'd have to disprove the question. One thing I always loved about Nuke tests is the concept of error carried forward, in other words if you made a math error so long as you knew the concept you wouldn't get penalized the whole question.
So if you accidently hit a decimal point where there was none, but you had the equation correct they'd take off a point for the math error, but give you 19 for the equation. Many of the questions were long and involved.
So one day we're taking a Thermodynamics Exam. Naval nuke school had two exams every other day.
The question is:
A man claims he's invented an engine that rejects heat from a cold source to a hot source (impossible by the way). Is this possible?
Now the Navy wanted a dissertation about the Laws of Thermo which govern work, energy and flow of heat. For some reason the smart ass instinct took over so I answered as follows.
"Yes it's possible for the man to claim whatever he wishes to claim"
Of course I lost all 20 points on the question, however they had a policy that a student could get points back if he could adequately explain his answer in front of the Head Instructor. I appealed and had my hearing. I asked him to read the question and told him it was poorly worded and of course little old me felt the question concerned the mans right to claim whatever he wanted. The head instructor knew otherwise, but of course couldn't prove it. He admitted it was a poorly written question and gave me my 20 points back 🙂
Tron
