The Temperature of H E L L

[mthieme]

A thermodynamics professor had written a take-home exam for his graduate students. It had one question:
"Is hell exothermic or endothermic? Support your answer with a proof."

Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law or some variant. One student however wrote the following:

First, we postulate that if souls exist, then they must have some mass. If they do, then a mole of souls can also have a mass. So, at what rate are souls moving into hell and at what rate are souls leaving? I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving.

As for souls entering hell, lets look at the different religions that exist in the world today. Some of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to hell. Since, there are more than one of these religions and people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all people and all souls go to hell.

With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in hell to increase exponentially.

Now, we look at the rate of change in volume in hell. Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in hell to stay the same, the ratio of the mass of souls an volume needs to stay constant.

So, if hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter hell, then the temperature and pressure in hell will increase until all hell breaks loose.

Of course, if hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in hell, than the temperature and pressure will drop until hell freezes over.

It was not revealed what grade the student got.

 

[chicknwing]

Re: The Temperature of H E L L

Thats a great answer to a complicated question.

TC

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: The Temperature of H E L L

I know Hell is suppose to be hot and i have been in 110deg heat and that's hot.
BUT when its 40 below and your out in it and the cold is biting at your skin. I would beg to say what is more hellish 40 below or 110 above.
So i guess the question in my mind is why is hell considered to be hot.

 

[eaglejim]

Re: The Temperature of H E L L

He probably didn't get a good grade because he thought outside the box,looks like the system didn't get to him

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: The Temperature of H E L L

That young man (or woman) has a promising future as a presidential speech writer.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: The Temperature of H E L L

So why does it seems All H E L L broke loose here when my mother in law comes a visiting.

 

[i386]

Re: The Temperature of H E L L

A+ Imo

 

[projecthog]

Re: The Temperature of H E L L

LOL, that was cool,

But I think he failed the test.

He only gave a categorically related Hypothesis, and failed to answer the original question.
A perfect example of what a presidential speechwriter would come up with ;(Thanks BoatBuoy!)

A complete answer, without an precise connection to the original problem, and no responsibility to the accuracy of the statement. Perfect!

Plausible deniability!


I am learning...,
Social assistance here I come.
PH.

 

[Tyme2fish]

Re: The Temperature of H E L L

Here is the student's FULL ANSWER.

The answer:

The student who received an "A" started his calculations by considering whether the total mass of Hell was increasing or decreasing with time. For this, he had to first calculate whether there was a net increase in the number of souls in Hell with time, or a reduction.

From basic theological assumptions, no souls ever leave Hell. Hell is conceived of as a place of punishment where its inmates are tortured for all eternity. On the other hand, souls are continually entering Hell. The student observed that many religions teach that anyone who is not a member will go to Hell. Historically, Christians have taught that all non-Christians will go to Hell. And many non-Christians have believed that all Christians will go there as well. One might therefore assume that all souls will end up in Hell. Thus with souls continually entering Hell and no souls exiting, the total mass of Hell is increasing.

There are two possibilities:

1. If the volume of Hell is expanding at a slower rate than souls are entering, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will "clearly increase until all Hell breaks loose."
2. On the other hand, if hell is expanding faster than this rate, then the temperature and pressure will "drop until Hell freezes over."

The student recalled a postulate given to him by a certain coed during his freshman year. She said that "it will be a cold night in Hell before I sleep
with you." He noted that he had still not been able to engage in sexual relationships with her. He concluded that Hell is in no danger of freezing over. Thus Option 2 is invalid, the temperature of Hell is increasing, and thus Hell is exothermic.

 

[projecthog]

Re: The Temperature of H E L L

Here is the student's FULL ANSWER.

The answer:

The student who received an "A" started his calculations by considering whether the total mass of Hell was increasing or decreasing with time. For this, he had to first calculate whether there was a net increase in the number of souls in Hell with time, or a reduction.

From basic theological assumptions, no souls ever leave Hell. Hell is conceived of as a place of punishment where its inmates are tortured for all eternity. On the other hand, souls are continually entering Hell. The student observed that many religions teach that anyone who is not a member will go to Hell. Historically, Christians have taught that all non-Christians will go to Hell. And many non-Christians have believed that all Christians will go there as well. One might therefore assume that all souls will end up in Hell. Thus with souls continually entering Hell and no souls exiting, the total mass of Hell is increasing.

There are two possibilities:

1. If the volume of Hell is expanding at a slower rate than souls are entering, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will "clearly increase until all Hell breaks loose."
2. On the other hand, if hell is expanding faster than this rate, then the temperature and pressure will "drop until Hell freezes over."

The student recalled a postulate given to him by a certain coed during his freshman year. She said that "it will be a cold night in Hell before I sleep
with you." He noted that he had still not been able to engage in sexual relationships with her. He concluded that Hell is in no danger of freezing over. Thus Option 2 is invalid, the temperature of Hell is increasing, and thus Hell is exothermic.

Now that's what I call an answer!

It would rate higher then the first installment of the scholar's attempt, as it actually gave an answer to the question.

MY question is;

If Hell is exothermic, then where is the result of the reaction, and where is the proof of that?
Is the answer complete or is it not? "Not" would be my guess as the answer did not provide the proof that was requested.

At this time I would like to call for a recession (world wide.)
PH.

 

[mphy98]

Re: The Temperature of H E L L

Way to much thinking going on here for a saturday!!

 

[Ross J]

Re: The Temperature of H E L L

I reckon it has to be very very hot. I'm over 50 now and when I was a wee boy of 8 my minister told me I was going to "burn in the hobs of hell".
When I was 12 he again told me I was going to "Burn in the hobs of hell".
And when I was 16 he again told me I was going to "Burn in the hobs of hell!"
Thats when I left the church, but I must say to keep the fires going this long would take a heck of a lot of fuel and if a whole lot of greenies get down there before me they're going to have a fieldday about the carbon footprint etc:
Ross

 

[levittownnick]

Re: The Temperature of H E L L

I have a problem with the proof that Tyme2Fish presented "The student recalled a postulate given to him by a certain coed during his freshman year. She said that "it will be a cold night in Hell before I sleep
with you." He noted that he had still not been able to engage in sexual relationships with her. He concluded that Hell is in no danger of freezing over. Thus Option 2 is invalid, the temperature of Hell is increasing, and thus Hell is exothermic." Please note that she did not say that she would never sleep with him, she merely said it will be a cold night in Hell. She did not specify which cold night. If Hell were to freeze over there would presumeably be many cold nights.