Riddle me this

[robmob]

Yep.

You are standing in front of a room with one lightbulb inside of it. You cannot see if it is on or off. Outside the room there are 3 switches in the off positions. You may turn the switches any way you want to. How can you turn the switches in such a way that you only have to enter the room once and find out which switch controls the lightbulb?

 

[beason]

ohhh thats a hard one, I've heard it befor so i wont answer.. see how long rolex lets his brain sizzle on it

 

[Jman30808]

turn all 3 on then go in
never mind i'm not right

 

[nitrogator]

you have a 1 in three chance so turn on one and hope its it

 

[robmob]

Nope. There is actually a way to do it without guessing.

 

[Jman30808]

Open the door then turn each switch on and off till you get the right one

 

[marauder]

Oh man, I know this one but I'm going to sit it out since I've heard it before.

 

[robmob]

Cool.

Let these guys who don't know it figure it out.

Open the door then turn each switch on and off till you get the right one

You can only open the door once so you only get one shot at it.

 

[nitrogator]

you got me on this one

 

[robmob]

Don't give up.

Just take a break and it will hit you.

 

[nitrogator]

well i am heading home so be back later

 

[Rolex]

I'm back. Is Dr. Candyman Einstein still around?

Flip any two switches to the on position. If the light is still off, and cold, it's the other one. If the bulb is off, but hot, it would be one of the two that you just flipped.

 

[robmob]

You need to be able to narrow it down to only one switch.

 

[Rolex]

Turn the first one on, and leave it on for several minutes, until the bulb gets hot. Turn it off until the bulb cools for a couple of minutes but is still warm.
Turn on the second one and enter the room immediately. If the bulb is warm and the light is off, it's the first switch. if the bulb is on and getting hot, it's the second one.
If the bulb is cold, then flipping switch #3 will turn on the light.
If all else fails, ask the janitor.

 

[robmob]

You are on the right track, but there is an easier and fool proof procedure.

 

[Rolex]

Damn. Flip all the switches up, and bring 2 extra lamps into the room and plug them in. Why is there only ONE lamp and 3 switches? That's not code.

Okay, I can't find the janitor, so I'll turn on switch #1 and wait several minutes. Now I'll turn on #2 and immediately walk inside and grab the bulb if it's ON. If I scream when I burn my hand, it's switch #1. If it's warm, it's #2, and if the light is still off, it's #3.

 

[Candyman]

Turn 2 switches on. Wait a few minutes. Then turn one switch off. Go in the room. If the bulb is on, then the switch that's still in the on position controls it. If it's off but warm, then the switch you turned off controls it. If it's off and cold, the switch you never turned controls it.

Then call your electrician and fire his ass. Hire someone who will actually label the damn circuit!

 

[Rolex]

I guess both answers are correct. Same theory, just a different method of timing on flipping the switches.
I totally agree with firing the electrician, thus causing perpetual confusion between not only them, but the whole family, friends and probably remaining an eternal thorn in the side of their respective companions.
......................................................................................................

Gather round, children. Robmob has designated me as the riddler while he's off loafing somewhere on a tropical island.

So, speaking of islands.....

A woman is dead on an island and there is nothing else on the island with her. How did she die?

 

[Jman30808]

she drowned and washed ashore

 

[Rolex]

No, she was alive when she arrived, and now she's not.