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Filler
October 12, 1793
National Gazette
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
Benjamin Franklin amused himself by proposing a trick question to the Royal Society of London: why a tub with a fish in it holds as much water as without. After they submitted solutions, he revealed it was a joke, as the tub holds less with the fish.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Anecdote of the celebrated
FRANKLIN.
THE Doctor wishing to amuse himself
with the credulity of the votaries of philosophy,
proposed to the Royal Society of
London the following question, of which
he requested a solution, viz.-"Why will
a Tub, with a Fish in it, contain as much
water as it will without the fish."
Many Academical pates were employed
in solving this difficult problem. Many
ingenious solutions were delivered in; but,
just as they were proceeding to publish the
one that was deemed the most so, the
Doctor informed them that there was a
small inaccuracy in their operations, which
he begged leave to rectify, by assuring them
that a Tub with a Fish in it would NOT
contain as much water as if the fish were
out.
FRANKLIN.
THE Doctor wishing to amuse himself
with the credulity of the votaries of philosophy,
proposed to the Royal Society of
London the following question, of which
he requested a solution, viz.-"Why will
a Tub, with a Fish in it, contain as much
water as it will without the fish."
Many Academical pates were employed
in solving this difficult problem. Many
ingenious solutions were delivered in; but,
just as they were proceeding to publish the
one that was deemed the most so, the
Doctor informed them that there was a
small inaccuracy in their operations, which
he begged leave to rectify, by assuring them
that a Tub with a Fish in it would NOT
contain as much water as if the fish were
out.
What sub-type of article is it?
Witty Remark
Human Interest
What keywords are associated?
Benjamin Franklin
Royal Society
Prank
Philosophy
Credulity
Tub And Fish
What entities or persons were involved?
Franklin
Where did it happen?
London
Filler Details
Topic
Franklin's Prank On The Royal Society's Credulity
Location
London
Key Persons
Franklin
Event Details
Franklin proposed to the Royal Society a question about why a tub with a fish holds as much water as without, leading to serious solutions; he then revealed it was a joke since the fish displaces water.