Thermodynamics of Hell
 
 
 The following is an actual exam question given on University of
 Washington chemistry mid-term. The answer by one student was so
 "profound" that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the
 Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of
 enjoying it as well.
 
 
 Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic
 (absorbs heat)?
 
 
 Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law,
 (gas cools off when it expands and heats up when it is compressed) or
 some variant. One student, however, wrote the following:
 
 
 "First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time.
 Therefore, we need to know the rate that souls are moving into Hell
 and the rate they are leaving. I think that we can safety assume that
 once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are
 leaving.
 
 
 "As for how many souls are 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 since most people
 do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that most
 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 of the volume in Hell because
 Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in
 Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand
 proportionately as souls are added.
 
 This gives two possibilities:
 
 
 1.   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.
 
 2.   If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls
 in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell
 freezes over.
 So, which is it?
 
 "If we accept the postulate given to me by Theresa during my Freshman
 year, "* that it will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you",
 and take into account the fact that I still have not succeeded in
 having that event take place, then, #2 cannot be true, and thus I am
 sure that Hell is exothermic and will not freeze.
 
 "The student received the only "A" given!
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