Authors of this question: Damiano Rotondo, Institutt for data- og elektroteknologi (IDE), Universitetet i Stavanger, Norway & Helem Sánchez, Hafrsfjord Skole, Norway
It is a frosty Christmas Eve, and Santa is getting ready for his big night of delivering gifts. The sleigh is loaded, the stars are twinkling, but there is one problem – his reindeer have picked up a strange habit. Whenever he tells them to reach a specific desired speed, the reindeer would only go to a speed equal to five times the difference between the speed Santa wants and their current speed itself.
Santa knows he needs to hit 88 miles per hour—the magical speed that Doc Brown once said could bend the fabric of time itself! With a nostalgic grin, Santa calls out, <<Ho ho ho, let’s aim for 100 miles per hour tonight!>>
But with their quirky way of reaching their actual speed, will the reindeer get the sleigh to 88 miles per hour, or will some kids have to wait until next year for their presents?
a. 🎅❄️🦌 Yes! The sleigh will reach well above 90 mph, and Santa will even have so much extra time that he can organize a huge snowball fight with the elves—rumour has it that Rudolph has quite the throwing arm.
b. 🎅⏱️🎁 Yes, but just barely! Santa’s sleigh will hit 90 mph at the very last second, just in time to deliver every gift and make sure all the kids around the world are happy.
c. 🦌⏳⚡ The reindeer will reach exactly 88 mph, and in a flash, Santa and his sleigh will travel back in time! He will be able to deliver the gifts, then return to the present just in time for Christmas morning, with a wink and a <<Great Scott!>>
d. 🚨😢📉 No, unfortunately. The reindeer will come close, reaching just over 80 mph, but they won’t make it to 88 mph, so a few kids won’t get their gifts on time.
e. 💔😭📬 No, it will be a disaster! The sleigh will only reach below 80 mph, and many kids will wake up to empty stockings. Santa’s workshop will need to work hard to make sure this doesn’t happen next year. Remember to sign up for the 2025 Control Advent Calendar when next year’s holiday season rolls around—you won’t want to miss how Santa perfects his speed control!