Riddle of the Week

Riddle of the Week: Filling a Glass With a Match

Difficulty level: Moderate

Michael Stillwell
 
By Jay Bennett

This week we've got a nice science experiment riddle for you, one that you can perform yourself at home.

PROBLEM

A waiter at a classy restaurant likes to play a game with his diners, offering them a challenge that will earn them a 50 percent discount if they can figure it out. If they fail, however, they promise to give the waiter a hefty 50 percent tip.

One diner accepts the challenge, and the waiter brings out an empty glass, a match, and a used wine cork, and he sets these in front of the customer. Then the waiter sets a plate in front of him that has enough water on it to cover the whole plate.

The waiter says to the diner, "if you can get the water into the glass without touching or moving the plate, using only the objects I have brought you, then you get 50 percent off your meal tonight."

This diner turned out to be pretty sharp, and he walked out with a 50 percent discount after his meal. What did he do?

HINT

Gather these materials and try to figure out the technique for yourself. (But be careful playing with matches! Take it outside.)

Solution to be posted on Friday