The Grey Labyrinth is a collection of puzzles, riddles, mind games, paradoxes and other intellectually challenging diversions. Related topics: puzzle games, logic puzzles, lateral thinking puzzles, philosophy, mind benders, brain teasers, word problems, conundrums, 3d puzzles, spatial reasoning, intelligence tests, mathematical diversions, paradoxes, physics problems, reasoning, math, science.

Ghost Post · Icarian Member

I am new here and I have solved this riddle. I am wondering if there is a particular place to post the solution or is putting it in the discussion forum good enough?

Ok, here it is: put the can in a pot of water, place on stove and bring water to a boil then pierce the can with the chopstick.

munira · Guest

I haven't tried it, but would this work?
boil a pot of water holding the can above the water with the chopstick so that it fills up with steam. then place the can into a pot of cold water. the condensing steam should crush the can.

Puzzle Wiz · Guest

You both are getting 'warm'... try this:
Place the chopstick half-way through the hole of the finger tab. Fill the can with about an inch of water and place into a pot deep enough so that the can doesn't touch the bottom but narrow enough so that the chopstick can straddle the top. Now bring the pot to a boil. The water inside of the can should be boiling also and steam should be rising from its openning. Now pick up the can by the chopstick (be careful!) and place it in a pot of COLD water. Let me know what happens.

Ghost Post · Icarian Member

Has anyone actually tried these ideas? Has anyone tried the official Grey Labyrinth answer?

mwf · Daedalian Member

I have added a few drops of water to a empty coke can. Then held it 1/2 inch above my eletric stove on high with chopsticks thru the ring for a little bit to fill it with steam from the water. Then turned it upside down in a pan of ice cold water really quickly. Yes the can imploded.

mwf · Daedalian Member

I have added a few drops of water to a empty coke can. Then held it 1/2 inch above my eletric stove on high with chopsticks thru the ring for a little bit to fill it with steam from the water. Then turned it upside down in a pan of ice cold water really quickly. Yes the can imploded.

Ghost Post · Icarian Member

A couple of my friends have empirically found a different way to crush the can. First, cut a round can sized hole in the top of a big plastic 2.5 gallon container of water. Next, fill the container with water, and have one person use the chopstick to force the empty can into the water. Have the other person stomp on the container. The temporary force of the water rushing out through the hole is enough to crush the can. Now hide before anyone discovers the mess you've made.

Amy · Daedalian Member

The only problem with this solution is that a 2.5 gallon container of water is not necessarily something that would be found in "the average bachelor's kitchen," as the parameters of the puzzle specified.