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xkcd #2974: Storage Tanks (xkcd.com)

submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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We're considering installing a pressurization system to keep the tanks at constant pressure solely to deter them.

https://explainxkcd.com/2974/

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[–] [email protected] 21 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (5 children)

Build a bund wall, and throw a pump in there as well. Then, just pump the liquid back into the tank to keep it full at all times. In order to deter mathematically inclined terrorists, use a variable frequency drive and make that frequency change every second. The problem becomes unsolvable.

There are other options too. You could fill the tank with tar, any really thick slurry, molten sodium, hydrogen sulfide, 2-mercaptoethanol, propane just to name a few. Drill into a tank like that and you’ll regret that decision instantly.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 months ago (1 children)

As long as they can measure the frequency of the drive, some pervert is going to try to calculate the thing. Never underestimate the siren's song of a familiar but tricky problem.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Add a long pipe labyrinth so narrow it will cause turbulence and loose an unpredictable amount of energy that way. The mathematician who can predict how that mess works out gets a noble prize and a pack of drill bits.

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