In which order will these fill up?

[Scarum]

In which order will these fill up?

 

[EFLImpudence]

3 4 2 1

 

[Lmfao]

3214

 

[handyjack]

3421

 

[Ihavenojob]

3,4. 1&2 will never fill.

 

[Scarum]

3,4. 1&2 will never fill.

I agree.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Ha ha - of course, missed that.

 

[Trazor]

As previously said 1 and 2 will never fill up.

3 will fill up first, if the flow of water overcomes the rate at which the joining tube allows water into 4

3 and 4 will fill at the same moment, if the water flow is slow enough.

 

[bernardgreen]

3,4. 1&2 will never fill.

Correct but only if the pipes can all carry the amount of water coming from the tap

 

[Doggit]

The flow rate and amount of water that the pipes can handle are irrelevant, and not pertinent to the exercise (although a good side point) as the relevant question is which tank will fill first, and that has to be three by virtue that water has to go from 3 into No 4, and whilst we couldn't measure the rate of transfer, as the water can't get into tank 4 before it's been to tank 3, this is the only real answer even if they are filling up together.

 

[bernardgreen]

The flow rate and amount of water that the pipes can handle are irrelevant,

As previously said 1 and 2 will never fill up.

If the flow from the tap is more than the pipes can carry then tanks 1 and 2 will fill and start to over flow.

3 and 4 will fill at the same moment,

No water will flow into tank 4 until the water level in tank 3 is above the point where the pipe goes into tank 4

 

[Trazor]

No water will flow into tank 4 until the water level in tank 3 is above the point where the pipe goes into tank 4

That's true, but that point is not the top of tank 3.

If the water flow is slow enough, 3 and 4 will overflow at the same moment.

 

[bernardgreen]

3 and 4 will overflow at the same moment.

Again that is true. But isn't there a difference between "filled" and "overflowing"

 

[Trazor]

Again that is true. But isn't there a difference between "filled" and "overflowing"

Yes their may be a microscopic time difference, between tank 3 and 4, as regards full and overflowing.

But as quite often happens, such puzzles are ill thought out.
In order to exactly determine the outcome for each tank, we would need to know, amongst other things,
the flow rate of the water and the internal diameter of the connecting pipes.

But then again perhaps my pedanticism is out of control.

 

[bernardgreen]

But then again perhaps my pedanticism is out of control.

Mine is