h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This should not be attempted without adequate safety provision and under the guidance of trained experts:

1) Select a small but robust nickel-based coin (the 10p piece is ideal, but the £1 coin is better if you are feeling lucrative), a 75cm length of straight copper tubing, a wax taper and 25g of light explosive (a 50-50 mix of blackpowder and ground charcoal is ideal)

2) Seal one end of the tube by welding and drill a hole in the curved side approximately 3cm forward of the weld.

3) Pack the explosive tightly into the sealed end of the tube. Insert the taper into the hole, ensuring there is no air space left around the edges.

4) Wrap the coin in sufficient wadding (any old, soft cloths will be fine) to ensure it will slide down the tube without leaving air space round the sides. _Gently_ push it as far down the tube as possible.

5) Angle and affix the tube to approximately 25 degrees.

6) _FROM A DISTANCE OF AT LEAST 50 METRES_, and preferably from behind a reinforced wall, light the taper using a remote heating coil or spark. Cover ears.

7) Conservative estimates say you should get at least 600 metres, and that certainly is how to make a small amount of money go a long way.

B

Or, you could sneak up to the space shuttle when nobody's looking and superglue a 5p piece to the wing...

Assuming it's not Challenger, that is, in which case 600m would be somewhat optimistic.

B

I see the editors didn't think much of this suggestion, then. I wonder why...

B

I think it was the cost of the copper tube and the reinforced wall that disqualified it.

Well, you can pick up a length of copper tubing from your nearest plumbing suppliers for a couple of quid.

The reinforced wall is strictly optional. A house should do.

B