Logic Problem : Three switches

Question

You have just entered a darkened building. It is early evening. In front of you is a staircase to the next floor. Next to you are three switches.

One (and only 1) of these switches controls a working light bulb. The bulb is on the next floor. You cannot see the light from here (assume a perfectly-blocking door).

You may flip the switches as you please. Then, you are allowed only one (1) journey to check the light (no more switch flipping).

After checking: Which switch controls the light?

Answer 1

Taking from @Micheal,

Say I turn on switch 1. I leave it on for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, I turn on switch 2 and immediately go on the journey to check the light.

If the light bulb is switched on, the switch would be 2. If the light bulb is off, but it is warm, the switch would be 1. If the light bulb is neither on nor warm, the switch would be 3.

... Then again, Idk if I'm tall enough to reach the light bulb. 😐

Answer 2

Is it something to do with lightbulbs getting hot?

Answer 3

Ooh, I know this one! (That is, if I can tell you the answer after going upstairs) 👍

Answer 4

@Hatsy Rei
Good answer

Answer 5

The default switch? 😛

Answer 6

Marked @Hatsy Rei as best. I'll look at Michael's/etc. codes for some upvotables, because: timing & I used such questions to clarify.

I like this problem because it requires some thinking in meta-information, but I wasn't positive I could allude to that without giving it away.

Answer 7

@Jafca, yes :) Edited to clarify I hope.

Answer 8

@Michael Foster : Does it prove anything?

Answer 9

@Rrestoring faith: Do you mean the one often on the light itself? That's a funny little loophole; just not the one I'm looking for :)

Answer 10

journey upstairs and start throwing thongs at the light bulb. once the light bulb is broken the answer is easy.

none of them control the light bulb as it is broken

Answer 11

@david schlemmer - haha, it sounds like you have the answer to this one, too:

https://www.sololearn.com/discuss/299535/?ref=app

Answer 12

haha ive heard this one before.