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Weekend


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August 31, 2001

Strange But True!

  • A weekly column of incidental information, off-the-wall observations and other random facts about the world.

    • Q. Sweltering day, air conditioner’s broken, so why not open the refrigerator door to cool the room? Cool move?

    A. It might work momentarily but when the fridge’s cooling system cranks up, more heat will be generated than is absorbed by the released colder air, so the room will become even hotter, says Jearl Walker in “Flying Circus of Physics.” “You can be sneaky, however. You can unplug the refrigerator as soon as you open the door. Of course, then your beer will not stay cool, and you will have to drink it all.”


     
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