Guess at what depth a Ping Pong Ball will crush?

[drbill]

As a scientist and a man, I would have to interject here. I do not believe a single sample is sufficient data for one to make a statement as to when pong pong balls will implode at depth. Now, one can say with some certainty that the ping pong ball in question imploded at that depth. However, one should take a sufficiently large sample size of ping pong balls and subject them to different depths under different temperature, salinity and other factors to see what the probability curve is.

Does this mean Mishelle is still available?

 

[OliveBone]

All very good points, if you are willing to fund such a project, I'll do the dives. LOL

 

[Randy43068]

Dr. Bill, Dr, Bill, Dr. Bill,

That is entirely too much information! Why would we want to be bothered with FACTS when we've already made up our minds? But you raise a good point about Mishelle.

Randy

 

[drbill]

My goodness, my post was meant in jest (well, except for the comment on Mishelle)! However, as I said to OliveBone, let's see if we can get some foundation or the US Govt. to fund a study with big $$$!!!

 

[Randy43068]

I knew it.. was hoping my smartassness came through somehow in the text.

My goodness, my post was meant in jest (well, except for the comment on Mishelle)! However, as I said to OliveBone, let's see if we can get some foundation or the US Govt. to fund a study with big $$$!!!

 

[Randy43068]

My goodness, my post was meant in jest (well, except for the comment on Mishelle)! However, as I said to OliveBone, let's see if we can get some foundation or the US Govt. to fund a study with big $$$!!!

money are we talking here? Big, BIG bucks?

 

[wstein]

Well since we would have to make the pitch to the US govt, I would suggest making it something around 50 billion, just saying it is the test the immersion resistance of plastic spheres as it relates to pantless gnomes (see the where is Moonie thread)

Paul

 

[Bill51]

As a scientist and a man, I would have to interject here. I do not believe a single sample is sufficient data for one to make a statement as to when pong pong balls will implode at depth. Now, one can say with some certainty that the ping pong ball in question imploded at that depth. However, one should take a sufficiently large sample size of ping pong balls and subject them to different depths under different temperature, salinity and other factors to see what the probability curve is.

Does this mean Mishelle is still available?

Twenty five ping pong balls should be enough of a sample to ascertain a statistically significant mean, average, maximum, and minimum crush depth for the balls assuming you could have five each from five different vendors and you could then determine if manufacture variances would require a separate study. In order to determine if further environmental influences should be studied the test should be conducted once in warm saltwater and again in cold fresh water.

Now the serious question is how to control the descent in a DIR manner. The mass needed to sink 25 balls will be too much after the early failure balls loss their lift, so a method must be developed to prevent a runaway descent after the first few failures. Possibly a lift bag with a large opening could be positioned above the balls to capture any air that might escape from the crushed balls which would help somewhat offset the decreased buoyancy and it could be filled with additional air as needed to maintain neutral buoyancy for the duration of the test. An indented plate could be devised to hold the balls down without upsetting the test by adding undue point stresses on the balls, but should the plate be suspended between the weight and the lift bag with surgical tubing?

The question of Mishelle’s availability might be more a question of whether she’s been seen running away from all the geeks hanging out here – with or without surgical tubing.

ETA: As a good capitalist I think rather than seeking government funding we should be seeking funding from the marketing department of some ping pong ball manufactures who would like to prove that their balls have the strength and durability to stand up under the intense pressure of any game.

 

[DivesWithTurtles]

In addition to crushed balls, should shrinkage also be considered in the study?

 

[wstein]

In addition to crushed balls, should shrinkage also be considered in the study?

Hmmmmmm, only if we are testing in cold waters.