Page:Cyclopedia of Puzzles by Samuel Loyd.pdf/46



'''PROPOSITION—-What will be the result if the monkey attempts to climb the rope? Will the weight rise or fall? '''

HERE IS A QUAINTLY told problem in mechanics, which, despite its apparent simplicity. is said to have caused Lewis Carroll considerable disquietude. Whether the famous author of "Alice in Wonderland," who was an Oxford professor of mathematics was the originator of the problem is not known. but in an evil hour, as mentioned in a recent paper upon his writings and doings, he asked for information upon the following subject:

"If, to a rope, passed over a loose pulley, is suspended a ten-pound counter weight. which balances exactly with a monkey eating an apple, swinging at the other end, what would be the result if the monkey attempts to climb the rope?"

"It is very curious." says Lewis Carroll, "to note the different views taken by good mathematicians. Price says the weight goes up with increasing velocity. Both Clifton and Harcourt maintain that the weight goes up at the same rate of speed as the monkey: while Sampson says that it goes down."

A distinguished mechanical engineer says "it Would have no more effect than it ﬂy crawling up a rope," while a scientist claims that "the weight would rise or lower. according to the inverse ratio of the speed with which the monkey ate the apple." from which. however, should be extracted the square root of the monkey's tail. Seriously speaking, it is a pretty problem, and, as the principle of Lewis Carroll's monkey puzzle has become a much-discussed problem, worthy of serious consideration, it is presented to illustrate the intimate relationship between puzzles and mechanical problems.

It is a well-known fact that the study of puzzles of any kind gives one a clear insight into the principles of mechanical laws or natural philosophy.

In theory the problem appears to be about as paradoxical as a recent conundrum which is going the rounds as to what is it that will go up a chimney down or down a chimney down, but will not go up a chimney up nor down a chimney up? (An umbrella.)