uk666 5,298 Report post Posted June 20, 2018 Which Switch Puzzle You have just purchased a giant mansion with a wine cellar in the basement. On the main floor, next to the staircase, are 3 light switches that control light bulbs in different parts of the house. You would like to know which one turns on the light in the wine cellar. How can you determine which light switch is wired to the wine cellar by making a SINGLE trip to the basement and nowhere else? You can do whatever you like with the switches, but once you go down into the wine cellar you need to know for sure which switch is for the wine cellar. Note that this is not a trick question. You are alone in the house, the wiring is hidden behind the wall, and the rooms controlled by the three switches are not visible from where you are standing. The solution is strictly in the manipulation of the light switches. Hint Spoiler The problem is that two of the three switches produce the same effect in that they do not turn the lightbulb on. Try to find a way to create THREE states (one state is on, one state is off, now find a clever way to create a third state). Answer Spoiler Turn on switch #1 for several minutes, and then turn it off. Now turn on switch #2 and immediately go down to the wine cellar. If the light is on, then switch #2 turns on the light in the wine cellar. If the light is off, TOUCH the light bulb. If the light bulb is warm, switch #1 (the one that you left on for several minutes before switching it off) turns on the light in the wine cellar. If, however, the light bulb is cool, switch #3 turns on the light in the wine cellar. Did you solve the puzzle? Was it easy? Tell us in the section below! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tech 425 3,942 Report post Posted June 20, 2018 Well I fell down the dang stairs 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rædwulf 1,441 Report post Posted June 22, 2018 epic fail again.. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites