Yeah, I agree it measures preparedness more than skill. Also, there is a difference between a great physicist with a playful mind asking those questions, and s

Yeah, I agree it measures preparedness more than skill. Also, there is a difference between a great physicist with a playful mind asking those questions, and some nameless, annoyed interviewer whose only authority to ask such questions comes from the fact that he already has the job... In other words, these riddles can be used to encourage creativity when used right. But they can also be used to put down the candidate no matter what the answer (what, you would put the expensive Boeing in water??? you must be crazy!).