FoxTrot by Bill Amend for February 14, 1999

Transcript:

Teacher: All this to read,and class in five minutes. These kids are starting to rub off on me. Test: Q: A train leaves Station A at 10 a.m. and arrives 180 miles away at Station B at 2 p.m. Calculate the train's average speed for this trip. A: Assuming that the track is straight...assuming that the track is level...assuming that the train stays on the track for the entire trip...assuming that all clocks used are synchronized...assuming that all clocks used are accurate...assuming that Stations A and B are in the same time zone...assuming the times occur on the same day...assuming that 180 miles is the distance along the curved surface of the Earth and not "as the mole digs" so to speak..assuming the train doesn't take a backward route and circle the globe. Ignoring the motion of the Earth as it twirls and whizzes through space and lastly, ignoring relativity's effects on moving clocks and observers...45mph. Teacher: Jason, you forgot to put your name on your homework again. Jason: Ooops, how'd you know it was mine?