Twenty Questions
 

The goal is to guess what the OP is thinking of, within 20 questions.

Starting rule set:[LIST=1][*]The original poster will state the general type (for the item thought of): animal, vegetable, mineral, or mixed (to be used only when the object is quite mixed). [*]Yes or No are the main answers. The OP will try to stick with those without explanation.[*]Questions will be taken in turn. i.e. The second question may not be asked until the first is answered.[*]If the answer is "yes", the asker of that question gets to ask the next question. [*]The asker must mark their post with the question number.[*]There maybe a 21st question of "Is it....", provided that the 20th question was answered "yes".[*]If it is successfully guessed, the one that got it gets to think up the next item.[*]Except 'point of order' posts, please no side discussions.[/LIST]

First item:

[FONT="System"][SIZE="3"][COLOR="Blue"]Mineral[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

Is it above 5 on the Mohs hardness scale?

[QUOTE=Mini-Geek;234422][COLOR="Olive"](1)[/COLOR]Is it above 5 on the Mohs hardness scale?[/QUOTE]
Answer to question 1:
Yes and no
(you may ask the next question)

[points of clarification: The "animal, vegetable, mineral" starter does not mean that it is a live animal, a growing plant, or a hunk of rock. They could mean: a wool jumper, a paperback book, and the Empire State Building

Since the current object it question has parts that are hard and some that are not, the yes/no answer.]

Does each person get 20 questions, or is it 20 questions total for everyone?

[QUOTE=retina;234426][COLOR="Olive"]Point of clarification:[/COLOR] Does each person get 20 questions, or is it 20 questions total for everyone?[/QUOTE]20 total.

(2) Can it fit inside a 2 foot cube?

[QUOTE=Mini-Geek;234428](2) Can it fit inside a 2 foot cube?[/QUOTE]No.
The next question is to be aske by someone other than Mini-Geek.

Is it a man-made object?

Would having more of it help me find Mersenne Primes?

[QUOTE=petrw1;234434]Would having more of it help me find Mersenne Primes?[/QUOTE]

"Questions will be taken in turn. i.e. The second question may not be asked until the first is answered."
You can't ask that yet.

Point of clarification for future: Can future questions be abstract concepts (like the number M43112609), purely energy based (like photons), an imaginary object (a ghost or Santa), or does it [i]have[/i] to be a physical animal, mineral, vegetable, mixed thing?

[QUOTE=retina;234438]Point of clarification for future: Can future questions be abstract concepts (like the number M43112609), purely energy based (like photons), an imaginary object (a ghost or Santa), or does it [i]have[/i] to be a physical animal, mineral, vegetable, mixed thing?[/QUOTE]

I'd allow anything, though perhaps a ghost would require "none of the above" to animal/vegetable/mineral.

well I have 20 question handheld technically I could figure out all the paths lol. the start is animal,vegetable,mineral,other, and unknown, the possible answers are unknown, no, yes, and sometimes, anyway you get the point it's more complicated lol.

[QUOTE=science_man_88;234441]well I have 20 question handheld technically I could figure out all the paths lol. the start is animal,vegetable,mineral,other, and unknown, the possible answers are unknown, no, yes, and sometimes, anyway you get the point it's more complicated lol.[/QUOTE]

Yes, it gets 38 + lg 5 bits instead of 20 bits. But even so, I doubt it can guess "Mersenne prime", where that would probably be guessed in 10 questions here. :smile:

[QUOTE=retina;234432][COLOR="Olive"](3)[/COLOR]Is it a man-made object?[/QUOTE]Why yes, yes it is!

[point of clarification issues: I think other is ok. I don't think that unknown should be allowed here. And if it is a specific item, it shan't be something on the order of, my fingernail clippings from my left ring finger from 2 weeks ago; rather Lord Nelson's lost arm would be ok. ]

I relinquish my question to the next poster.

Q4. It is bigger than a house? (No, not the WhiteHouse; I mean a "typical", 3 bedroom, 1,200 SQ Ft House.)

[QUOTE=petrw1;234457][COLOR="DarkOrange"](4)[/COLOR]It is bigger than a house? (No, not the WhiteHouse; I mean a "typical", 3 bedroom, 1,200 SQ Ft House.)[/QUOTE]No, it is not larger than a typical house.

Someone other than petrw1 gets the next question.

(5) Is it a powered device, be it electrical or other?

[QUOTE=Mini-Geek;234459](5) Is it a powered device, be it electrical or other?[/QUOTE]Yes indeed.
You have the next question.

(6) Is it an electronic device?

[QUOTE=Mini-Geek;234463](6) Is it an electronic device?[/QUOTE]
No, it is not [U][I]an electronic device[/I][/U] per se, any more than a modern car would be an electronic device.

Next person.


[A modern computer still has mechanical parts, but is an electronic device. A handyman's drill has electronics in it and the battery pack, but neither would be an electronic device.]

(7) Is it easy to carry by hand? (with out mechanical aid such as hand truck)

[QUOTE=gjmccrac;234469](7) Is it easy to carry by hand? (with out mechanical aid such as hand truck)[/QUOTE]No.
Next person.

(8) Is it bigger than a Smart car?

[QUOTE=mdettweiler;234474](8) Is it bigger than a Smart car?[/QUOTE]
Yes it is.

You have the next question.

[QUOTE=Uncwilly;234476]Yes it is.

You have the next question.[/QUOTE]
(9) Is it bigger than a full-sized pickup?

[QUOTE=mdettweiler;234477](9) Is it bigger than a full-sized pickup?[/QUOTE]
No, it is samller. The maximal dimension of the truck is larger and total volume of the truck is larger (my estimate, which includes the open volume of the bed and the volume from the ground to the undercarriage.)

Next person.


[point of info, I think that we should add a 12 or 24 time out for a no answer (this will also a broader player base.)]

10) Is it chemically powered?

And if so, [SPOILER]11) is it a generator?[/SPOILER]

[QUOTE=lavalamp;234485]10) Is it chemically powered?[/QUOTE]I need clarification on this. Would something that is battery powered be considered "chemically powered"? Would you considered a camper that resides in the bed of a pickup to be 'chemically powered', because the pick-up that moves it is chemically powered?

[QUOTE=Uncwilly;234481][point of info, I think that we should add a 12 or 24 time out for a no answer (this will also a broader player base.)][/QUOTE]
I'm not sure what you mean here...are you saying that the person who asked the question that turned out to be "no" needs to wait 12/24 hours to claim an questioner opening when it comes up next? Or that you'll wait 12/24 hours before posting a "no" answer? :huh:

[QUOTE=mdettweiler;234491]are you saying that the person who asked the question that turned out to be "no" needs to wait 12/24 hours to claim an questioner opening when it comes up next?[/QUOTE]Yes, maybe they should sit on their hands. That way those that are on the computer 24/7 aren't the only ones that get a crack at it.

[QUOTE=Uncwilly;234486]I need clarification on this. Would something that is battery powered be considered "chemically powered"? Would you considered a camper that resides in the bed of a pickup to be 'chemically powered', because the pick-up that moves it is chemically powered?[/QUOTE]Yes, I meant chemically powered in the sense of a fuel that is burned up in a heat engine.

[QUOTE=lavalamp;234485]10) Is it chemically powered?[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=lavalamp;234504]Yes, I meant chemically powered in the sense of a fuel that is burned up in a heat engine.[/QUOTE]Although you didn't respond to the first part of the inquiry...
Yes, then it is chemically powered.....

You get the next question.

[QUOTE=Uncwilly;234521]Although you didn't respond to the first part of the inquiry...
Yes, then it is chemically powered.....[/QUOTE]I clarified my question, whether I considered a battery to be chemically powered after that point is irrelevant. In actuality, I would consider a battery to be a power source, so that something could be battery powered, even though I know that batteries are not actually a true source of energy (but then what is after all?).[QUOTE=Uncwilly;234521]You get the next question.[/QUOTE]I already asked it:[QUOTE=lavalamp;234485]And if so, [SPOILER]11) is it a generator?[/SPOILER][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=lavalamp;234485]11) is it a generator?[/QUOTE]No, it is not a generator.
Next person.

12) does it come in many different colors ?

[QUOTE=science_man_88;234562]12) does it come in many different colors ?[/QUOTE]No, there is no selection of colors.
Next person.

To recap thus far:
It is a mineral.
It is a man made object that has parts both harder and softer than 5 on the Mohs hardness scale.
It is a chemically powered heat-engine device, with presumably some electrical components, but it is not a generator (and is probably not a battery either), and doesn't come in a variety of colours.
It is bigger than a smart car, but smaller than a pickup truck.

Sounds an awful lot like a Ford Model T to be honest, you can have any colour you like as long as it's black.

13) Is it a form of transport?

[QUOTE=lavalamp;234567]It is a chemically powered heat-engine device,[/quote]It is not a chemically powered heat-engine device.
According to the request for clarification, and your affirmative answer, it is chemically powered (you need to read my questions carefully.)

[quote]It is bigger than a smart car, but smaller than a [COLOR="Red"]full size[/COLOR] pickup truck.[/quote]I used a long-bed F-150 for the calcs.

[quote]13) Is it a form of transport?[/QUOTE]
You did not sit on your hands for 12 hours or better. But that is ok for this time.

Yes, it is a form of transport.

I hope it's ok to post a recap (I'm trying to stay within the rules by avoiding side discussions, or even a 'discussion' per se on this topic, by just restating known facts in a single post). I thought it'd be somewhat telling to include Uncwilly's exact responses, since he sometimes has to qualify his statements, instead of them being clearly in one direction only. (I also bolded many specifics that I thought might give away more info than just a yes or no might have)

All specific things mentioned as examples (a modern car, a modern computer, etc.) can be clearly eliminated, so it's none of those.
General type: Mineral
(1) Is it above 5 on the Mohs hardness scale? [B]Yes and no[/B] ["Since the current object it question [B]has parts that are hard and some that are not[/B], the yes/no answer."]
(2) Can it fit inside a 2 foot cube? No.
(3) Is it a man-made object? [B]Why yes, yes it is![/B]
(4) It is bigger than a house? No, it is not larger than a [B]typical[/B] house.
(5) Is it a powered device, be it electrical or other? Yes indeed.
(6) Is it an electronic device? No, it is [B]not an electronic device per se[/B], any more than a modern car would be an electronic device.
(7) Is it easy to carry by hand? No.
(8) Is it bigger than a Smart car? [B]Yes it is.[/B]
(9) Is it bigger than a [B]full-sized[/B] pickup? No, it is samller. [B]The maximal dimension of the truck is larger and total volume of the truck is larger[/B] (my estimate, which includes the open volume of the bed and the volume from the ground to the undercarriage.) ["I used a long-bed F-150 for the calcs."]
(10) Is it chemically powered? Yes [(Uncwilly) "I need clarification on this. [B]Would something that is battery powered be considered "chemically powered"? Would you considered a camper that resides in the bed of a pickup to be 'chemically powered', because the pick-up that moves it is chemically powered?[/B]" - (lavalamp) "[B]Yes[/B], I meant chemically powered in the sense of a fuel that is burned up in a heat engine." - (Uncwilly) [taking only the Yes as a response] "Although you didn't respond to the first part of the inquiry... Yes, then it is chemically powered....."]
(11) Is it a generator? No, it is not a generator.
(12) Does it come in many different colors ? No, there is no selection of colors.
(13) Is it a form of transport? Yes, it is a form of transport. ["It is not a chemically powered heat-engine device", but it is chemically powered in the sense that Uncwilly stated, including battery-powered and a truck-attached camper.]

[QUOTE=Mini-Geek;234572]< snip >

(4) It is bigger than a house? No, it is not larger than a [B]typical[/B] house.

< snip >

(9) Is it bigger than a [B]full-sized[/B] pickup? No, it is samller. [B]The maximal dimension of the truck is larger and total volume of the truck is larger[/B] (my estimate, which includes the open volume of the bed and the volume from the ground to the undercarriage.) ["I used a long-bed F-150 for the calcs."]
[/QUOTE]Answer #9 supersedes answer #4, so "typical" in #4 no longer gives away any info IMO.

(Also, answer #8 supersedes answer # 2.)

- - -

#9 eliminates the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile, which does satisfy everything else except #10, because of Uncwilly's "It is not a chemically powered heat-engine device."

Mini-Geek, I think your summary for #10 should include that statement (in addition to #13).

- - -

Since it is a form of transport, but does not have a selection of colors:

(14) Is it one of multiple identical, or practically identical items?

[QUOTE](1) Is it above 5 on the Mohs hardness scale? Yes and no ["Since the current object it question has parts that are hard and some that are not, the yes/no answer."]
(2) Can it fit inside a 2 foot cube? No.
(3) Is it a man-made object? Why yes, yes it is!
(4) It is bigger than a house? No, it is not larger than a typical house.
(5) Is it a powered device, be it electrical or other? Yes indeed.
(6) Is it an electronic device? No, it is not an electronic device per se, any more than a modern car would be an electronic device.
[COLOR="Red"](7) Is it easy to carry by hand? No[/COLOR].
(8) Is it bigger than a Smart car? Yes it is.
(9) Is it bigger than a full-sized pickup? No, it is samller. The maximal dimension of the truck is larger and total volume of the truck is larger (my estimate, which includes the open volume of the bed and the volume from the ground to the undercarriage.) ["I used a long-bed F-150 for the calcs."]
(10) Is it chemically powered? Yes [(Uncwilly) "I need clarification on this. Would something that is battery powered be considered "chemically powered"? Would you considered a camper that resides in the bed of a pickup to be 'chemically powered', because the pick-up that moves it is chemically powered?" - (lavalamp) "Yes, I meant chemically powered in the sense of a fuel that is burned up in a heat engine." - (Uncwilly) [taking only the Yes as a response] "Although you didn't respond to the first part of the inquiry... Yes, then it is chemically powered....."]
(11) Is it a generator? No, it is not a generator.
(12) Does it come in many different colors ? No, there is no selection of colors.
(13) Is it a form of transport? Yes, it is a form of transport. ["It is not a chemically powered heat-engine device", but it is chemically powered in the sense that Uncwilly stated, including battery-powered and a truck-attached camper.][/QUOTE]

7 should have been obvious in my opinion as what can you carry that is bigger than 8 cubic feet which is the volume of 2 foot cube.


a man made chemically powered mineral that is bigger than a smart car, with no possible variant in colors and can act as a form of transport, I have no * clue

fluorite ?

[QUOTE=Mini-Geek;234572]All specific things mentioned as examples (a modern car, a modern computer, etc.) can be clearly eliminated, so it's none of those.[/QUOTE]

How did you eliminate a modern car?

[QUOTE=cheesehead;234575](14) Is it one of multiple identical, or practically identical items?[/QUOTE]It is still lavalamp's turn. The answer to #13 was a yes, see rule 4.

[QUOTE=axn;234577]How did you eliminate a modern car?[/QUOTE]

With this: "No, there is no selection of colors."
Admittedly, if the object is a particular modern car or a very unusual class of modern car, there might be no selection of colors, so my assessment wasn't necessarily 100% accurate. But it does eliminate common general types of modern cars (e.g. it can't be a type of car like "Chevy Volt" or "VW Beetle" or whatnot).
Uncwilly, on #10, can you please clarify which definition you answered Yes to? Was it, as I assumed, this definition? "Would something that is battery powered be considered "chemically powered"? Would you considered a camper that resides in the bed of a pickup to be 'chemically powered', because the pick-up that moves it is chemically powered?"

[QUOTE=Mini-Geek;234587]Uncwilly, on #10, can you please clarify which definition you answered Yes to?[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=lavalamp;234485]10) Is it chemically powered?[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Uncwilly;234486]Would something that is battery powered be considered "chemically powered"? Would you considered a camper that resides in the bed of a pickup to be 'chemically powered', because the pick-up that moves it is chemically powered?[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=lavalamp;234504]Yes, I meant chemically powered in the sense of a fuel that is burned up in a heat engine.[/QUOTE]If lavalamp's answer is affirmative to [B]either[/B] of my questions or both, then yes is the answer to his initial question. Question 6 might help out.

14) Since it is chemically powered, but does not use a heat engine, does it contain a fuel cell?

[QUOTE=lavalamp;234608]14) Since it is chemically powered, but does not use a heat engine, does it contain a fuel cell?[/QUOTE]No, it does not contain a fuel cell.

Next person.

(15) Is it made to transport more than two people?
(I would've just said "Can it hold ..." but how much you can fit in/on something isn't the same as what it's made to carry)

[QUOTE=Mini-Geek;234633](15) Is it made to transport more than two people?[/QUOTE]You made a brave assumption that is is made to transport people.


Yes, it is made to transport more than 2.

You have the next go.

[QUOTE=Uncwilly;234634]You made a brave assumption that is is made to transport people.[/QUOTE]
Perhaps, but I'd think most things that are 'a form of transport' in this size range are made to transport people.

(16) Does it move under its own power?

[QUOTE=Mini-Geek;234635](16) Does it move under its own power?[/QUOTE]No, it does not.

Next person.
[lavalamp's 12 hour pause has not expired yet.]

This puzzle format reminds a little bit of charades:

[quote="Blackadder"]"Ah ha. Lets see if I've got this straight."
"If I admit that I'm in love with ..."
[guard shakes his head]
"No?"
[guard does a half somersault]
"Oh, If I say that I'm [i]head over heels[/i] in love with Satan and all his little wizards, you will remove my testicles with a blunt instrument resembling some kind of gardening tool, but we can't quite make that out, and roast them over a large fire."
"Whereas, if I don't admit that I'm head over heels in love with Satan and all his little wizards, you will hold me upside down in a vat of warm marmalade."
[Blackadder sees the guard expecting more]
"... [b]and[/b] remove my testicles with a blunt instrument resembling some kind of gardening tool."
[guard nods]
"Well in that case, I love Satan."
[guard produces a scythe]
"Oh, it's a [i]scythe[/i]."[/quote]

(17) Does it have sails?

[QUOTE=retina;234637](17) Does it have sails?[/QUOTE]Nope, it does not have sails.

Next person.

(18) is it human powered like a bicycle.

[QUOTE=science_man_88;234642](18) is it human powered like a bicycle.[/QUOTE]No, it is not powered by humans.

Next person.

19.) Can you buy a new one for less than $15,000?

[QUOTE=MooMoo2;234695]19.) Can you buy a new one for less than $15,000?[/QUOTE]No way!
Next person.

20. Is it: [url]http://www.iconaircraft.com/[/url] or something like it?

My guess is that it's an elevator.

[QUOTE=petrw1;234701]20. Is it: [url]http://www.iconaircraft.com/[/url] or something like it?[/QUOTE]That has been eliminated by the following:

(9) Is it bigger than a full-sized pickup? No, it is samller. The maximal dimension of the truck is larger...
(10) Is it chemically powered? Yes [(Uncwilly) "I need clarification on this. Would you considered a camper that resides in the bed of a pickup to be 'chemically powered', because the pick-up that moves it is chemically powered?"
(15) Is it made to transport more than two people? Yes
(16) Does it move under its own power?
:ouch:

Thus, someone else should ask a proper new question.

[QUOTE=Oddball;234702]My guess is that it's an elevator.[/QUOTE]
You didn't wait your turn.

Beside that has been eliminated by:
(12) Does it come in many different colors ? No, there is no selection of colors.

[QUOTE=cheesehead;234575](14) Is it one of multiple identical, or practically identical items?[/QUOTE]Asking this now wouldn't do much good. :-}

[QUOTE=Uncwilly;234706][QUOTE=Oddball;234702]My guess is that it's an elevator.[/QUOTE]

You didn't wait your turn.

Beside that has been eliminated by:
(12) Does it come in many different colors ? No, there is no selection of colors.[/QUOTE]Oh? It seems to me that a customer would have some say about what the interior of an elevator looks like -- carpet and walls, at least. I've seen a wide variety of elevator interior decor -- often coordinated with the interior decor of the building in general.

Since it is chemically powered, but not able to move under it's own power, yet somehow is also a form of transport, I have to assume it's something that is towed.

I can only think caravan, but that would be larger than a pickup and would come in a selection of colours.

I'm out of questions, so I'm going to bed and I'll check again in the morning to see if the object has been revealed.

Hm...not a full recap (I'd like to post that between answer 20 and the final guess), but here are some big points:
chemically powered
doesn't move under its own power
transport for more than two people
no selection of colors
definitely can not buy a new one for under $15,000
between the size of a smart car and a full-size pickup

It seems very odd to me that something designed to transport people has no selection of colors, and I'm having trouble thinking of what fits all the criteria. My closest thoughts are some sort of car, (seems unlikely, unless it's highly specific) or an elevator (only possible if the 'no selection of colors' only applied to the outside of the thing...and elevators are rather monochromatic, as I'm guessing).

[QUOTE=Mini-Geek;234723]an elevator (only possible if the 'no selection of colors' only applied to the outside of the thing...and elevators are rather monochromatic, as I'm guessing).[/QUOTE]Previously addressed. Elevators can be glass (fully see-through), steel, paneled, and upholstered.

(not a numbered question since we are at the last possibility and it would be a shame to waste it on a hunch) I wonder if it is the Q of Es horse drawn carriage or something like that? Probably something unique and well known I expect.

[QUOTE=retina;234727]I wonder if it is the Q of Es horse drawn carriage or something like that? Probably something unique and well known I expect.[/QUOTE]
Well I think that the carriage might be excluded based upon:

[QUOTE=Mini-Geek;234572](6) Is it an electronic device? No, it is [B]not an electronic device per se[/B], any more than a modern car would be an electronic device.[/QUOTE]
As to the second half.....?!?!?

[QUOTE=Uncwilly;234729]Well I think that the carriage might be excluded based upon:[/QUOTE]
The carriage is electronic? :huh:

[QUOTE=mdettweiler;234730]The carriage is electronic? :huh:[/QUOTE]
Is is not, but .....

[QUOTE=Mini-Geek;234723]It seems very odd to me that something designed to transport people has no selection of colors, and I'm having trouble thinking of what fits all the criteria. My closest thoughts are some sort of car, (seems unlikely, unless it's highly specific) .[/QUOTE]
A Popemobile, perhaps?

(that's just idle speculation; I'm not going to waste the last question on that, so I'm just bringing it up as a discussion point.)

A horse drawn hearse wouldn't come in a choice of colours, and it would be a form of transport unable to move under it's own power.

Santa's sleigh?

[QUOTE=Oddball;234735]A Popemobile, perhaps?[/QUOTE]There would have been no need of clarification on chemically powered.
[QUOTE=lavalamp;234761]A horse drawn hearse wouldn't come in a choice of colours, and it would be a form of transport unable to move under it's own power.[/QUOTE]The answer to question 6 would seem to eliminate that.
[QUOTE=bsquared;234779]Santa's sleigh?[/QUOTE]Answer to number 15 eliminated that one.

BTW, I was not trying to get tricky with a bizarre choice or something the I expected none of you to have knowledge of. To the best of my knowledge no one on thing forum is ignorant of this. Some of the details maybe.

[QUOTE]
Fact: is a [U][B]mineral[/B][/U]
(1) Is it above 5 on the Mohs hardness scale? Yes and no ["Since the current object it question has parts that are hard and some that are not, the yes/no answer."]
[COLOR="red"](2) Can it fit inside a 2 foot cube? No[/COLOR].
(3) Is it a man-made object? yes
[COLOR="Red"](4) It is bigger than a house? No[/COLOR]
(5) Is it a powered device, be it electrical or other? Yes
(6) Is it an electronic device? No
[COLOR="Yellow"](7) Is it easy to carry by hand? No[/COLOR].
(8) Is it bigger than a Smart car? Yes
(9) Is it bigger than a full-sized pickup? No,
(10) Is it chemically powered? Yes
[COLOR="Lime"](11) Is it a generator? No[/COLOR]
(12) Does it come in many different colors ? No
(13) Is it a form of transport? Yes
14) Since it is chemically powered, [B]but does not use a heat engine[/B], does it contain a fuel cell? No
15.) Is it made to transport more than two people? yes
16.) Does it move under its own power? no
17.)Does it have sails? no
18.) is it human powered like a bicycle? no
19.)Can you buy a new one for less than $15,000? no[/QUOTE]

don't think I've got a good guess. nothing to really explain about the colored questions lol.

only things i can thing of that might fit it is meteorite, comet or celestial body but these aren't man made.

smart car dimensions : <354600 cubic inches from what i gather from [url]http://auto.howstuffworks.com/smart-car.htm[/url]

should I look up a full sized pickup ?

Between a smart car and a pickup truck (or "full size" pickup truck, whatever the distinction is), means it's about the size of a regular car.

But I'm fresh out of ideas for modes of transport that are about car-sized that CAN'T move by themselves.

The way I see it there are three ways forward:
* Someone randomly guesses it.
* We remove the number 20 from the name and just play "Questions".
* You just tell us what it is.

[QUOTE=science_man_88;234796]smart car dimensions : <354600 cubic inches[/QUOTE]Which is 205 ft[SUP]3[/SUP], the volume figure that I calced for the truck was 627 ft[SUP]3[/SUP].

[QUOTE=lavalamp;234800]The way I see it there are three ways forward:
* Someone randomly guesses it.
* We remove the number 20 from the name and just play "Questions".
* You just tell us what it is.[/QUOTE]Some one can just lay down another question that might give a clue. If #20 is answered 'no', I will reveal. If #20 is yes, the final questioneer should take a best guess.



[SPOILER]BAMCNA 25374.6784[/SPOILER]

20) Is it something that is towed?

[QUOTE=lavalamp;234808]20) Is it something that is towed?[/QUOTE]
No, it is generally pushed though.

Here is the answer: [SPOILER][url]http://image64.webshots.com/164/7/10/8/544371008wbgpJl_fs.jpg[/url][/SPOILER]
Although if you got any of the other similars or the class of object you would have got it.

Max dimmension = 12.8 ft, truck is ~19 ft
Total volume = 488 ft[sup]3[/sup]
moved by an external chemically powered engine
powered by batteries and an external chemical source
design capacity = 3 (total potential, 4)
many parts above 5 Mohs, many below

Any disputes to my answers?

I would but I obviously don't know the technical meaning of "mineral"

Under typical rules as a parlor game, having stumped the audience, it should be my turn again to select something. If someone had guessed it, it would be their turn.

I yield any claim to that right. I think that there should be a new thread: "20 questions #2", with the rules placed in the first post. To start the next item in the same thread would be confusing.

Also, we might want to appoint an indpendant person each round, perhaps the last "answerer" (the person that dremt up the item), that would recieve a PM from the current answerer at the start of the round. They would ensure that the item is not changed midway. And they could possibly handle problem answers. This would keep them out of the loop for a game though (which would help also for more people to get a chance to be involved.)

[QUOTE=science_man_88;234818]I would but I obviously don't know the technical meaning of "mineral"[/QUOTE]I would refer you to: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20_Questions#Popular_variants[/url]

[SPOILER]I ruled out any form of spacecraft as at the very least they all have a reaction control system and therefore are capable of moving themselves, including the apollo command module.[/SPOILER]

Any naturally occurring inorganic material that has a (more or less) definite chemical composition and characteristic physical properties; [COLOR="Red"]Any inorganic material [/COLOR](as distinguished from animal or vegetable); Any inorganic element that is essential to nutrition; a dietary mineral; Mineral water ...
[B]en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mineral[/B] so anything inorganic is a mineral ? wow that's a hard split to make.

[QUOTE=Uncwilly;234820]I would refer you to: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20_Questions#Popular_variants[/url][/QUOTE]

I do have the handheld version I just am inept at asking good questions to split the field.

[QUOTE=Uncwilly;234817]No, it is generally pushed though.

Here is the answer: [SPOILER][url]http://image64.webshots.com/164/7/10/8/544371008wbgpJl_fs.jpg[/url][/SPOILER][/QUOTE]
I get:
[QUOTE]Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /164/7/10/8/544371008wbgpJl_fs.jpg on this server.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=lavalamp;234822][SPOILER]I ruled out any form of spacecraft as at the very least they all have a reaction control system and therefore are capable of moving themselves, including the apollo command module.[/SPOILER][/QUOTE] Well: [SPOILER]The CM RCS has 1/200th the power of the SPS. And the CM RCS is used for less than 1/600th of the flight. It is not used to move it from the course, only to rotate the position.[/SPOILER]The power for it to tranport is external.

[QUOTE=Flatlander;234829]I get:[/QUOTE]
Here is one that shouldn't be blocked:
[SPOILER][url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Apollo11_command_module.JPG[/url][/SPOILER]

[QUOTE=science_man_88;234823]wow that's a hard split to make.[/QUOTE]Basically for the game it works out:
Is/was it alive?
- No. It is a mineral.
- Yes. Well is it an animal?
- - Yes. Well there you go.
- - No. It is a plant.