Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: thedoc on 27/04/2016 02:50:01

Title: Is it true that if you throw a frog in boiling water it will jump out but if you heat it slowly it won't?
Post by: thedoc on 27/04/2016 02:50:01

Tim Woolmer  asked the Naked Scientists:
   Hi Chris,
For many years I heard management gurus talking about the "boiling frog" syndrome.
Recently I heard a real guru say the same thing.

"If you throw a frog into a pot of hot water it will immediately jump out.
"If you put it in cold water and slowly heat it, it will boil to death"

Please don't harm any frogs disproving it!

Good luck
Tim


What do you think?

Title: Re: Is it true that if you throw a frog in boiling water it will jump out but if you heat it slowly
Post by: Monox D. I-Fly on 30/08/2017 04:26:48

Quote from: thedoc on 27/04/2016 02:50:01

Please don't harm any frogs disproving it!

How are we going to prove it without doing so? Is there any frog simulation program or frog-shaped AI available?

Title: Re: Is it true that if you throw a frog in boiling water it will jump out but if you heat it slowly
Post by: Kryptid on 30/08/2017 04:32:29

The essence of the experiment could be done humanely by heating the water to an uncomfortable, but not lethal, temperature.

Title: Re: Is it true that if you throw a frog in boiling water it will jump out but if you heat it slowly
Post by: jeffreyH on 30/08/2017 10:29:19

Why don't we throw the guru into boiling water to see how they react? Much better than harming innocent frogs. The big problem with proposing these type of ideas is someone will act on them. Whether it is frogs or gurus there has to be a better analogy.

Title: Re: Is it true that if you throw a frog in boiling water it will jump out but if you heat it slowly
Post by: Bored chemist on 30/08/2017 17:50:30

Quote from: Monox D. I-Fly on 30/08/2017 04:26:48

How are we going to prove it without doing so?

wiki.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_frog