DATA TABLE

Length, Diameter, Aspect Ratio, and Tilt Angle for Cylinders of Different
Length and Diameter
Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

Tilt
Angle
(0 )

Tilt
Angle
(0 )

Total

Average
Tilt Angle
(0 )

Aspect Ratio

Cylinder
Length
(cm)

Diameter
(cm)

(Length
/diameter)

Tilt
Angle
(0 )

0.5

0.5

25

30

29.5

84.5

28.17

11

25

8.33

2.5

2.5

1.5

1.5

0.50

0.00

0.5

0.25

17

15.5

13

45.5

15.17

0.5

29.5

32

29

90.5

30.17

2.5

1.25

1.67

1.00

RESULTS

For cylinders of the same length, the aspect ratio (length/diameter)

for the wider cylinder was half the aspect ratio of the smaller
cylinder. For example, the aspect ratio of 1 cm long for a cylinder
with a 2 cm diameter was 0.5; the aspect ratio cylinder of 1 cm
diameter was 1.0.

As the length of the 1cm wide cylinder increased from 0.5 cm to 1

cm, the tilt angle decreased steeply from 28.1 to 8.3. The
average tilt angle for the 4 cm long cylinder was 0.

As the length of 2 cm wide cylinder increased from 0.5 cm to 1 cm,

the average tilt angle increased steeply from 15. 2 to 30. 2. As
the length of the 2 cm wide cylinder increased from 2.5 cm to 4
cm, the tilt angle decreased from 30.1 to 1.

Figure1. Change in Tilt Angle vs. Length of Cylinder

Change in Tilt Angle as Length of Cylinder Increased (Figure 1)

As the aspect ratio for 1 cm wide cylinder increased from 0.5

to 1.0, the average tilt angle decreased steeply from 28.3 to
8.3. As the aspect ratio continued to increase from 1 to 2.5,
the average tilt angle decreased gently to 0.

When the length reached about 2.5 cm, the cylinders floated
at 180 with no tilt horizontally on their side like logs.

As the length of 2 cm wide cylinder increased from 0.5 cm to

1 cm, the average tilt angle increased steeply from 15. 2 to
30. 2. As the length of the 2 cm wide cylinder increased
from 2.5 cm to 4 cm, the tilt angle decreased from 30.1 to
1.

Figure 2. Change in Tilt angle vs. Aspect ratio (Length/Diameter)

Change in Tilt Angle as Aspect Ratio Changed (Figure 2)

The tilt angle for the wider cylinder (2 cm diameter), increased steeply
from 15.1. To 30.2. as the aspect ratio ( length/diameter) increased
from 0.25 to 0.5. Then, as the aspect ratio continued to increase from
0.5 to 2.0, the tilt angle decreased steadily from 30.2 to 0.

As the aspect ratio approached 1.25, the 2 cm wide cylinders floated

at 180 like logs or disk with no (0) tilt angle. Shorter cylinders (0.5
cm) floated vertically like disks. Longer cylinders (4 cm) floated
horizontally like logs.

CONCLUSIONS

This research investigated how the tilt angle of a floating cylinder would change as
the aspect ratio (length/diameter) of a cylinder changed. I predicted that the tilt angle
would increase as the aspect ratio increased. I thought longer dowels would float at
an acute angle.
My results did not support my hypothesis. As the lengths of cylinders of each
diameter were increased, their aspect ratios increased. As the aspect ratio of the 1
cm and 2 cm cylinders increased, the tilt angle decreased following a non-linear
trend to 0. The longer cylinders floated horizontally at nearly 180 degrees, or with 0
tilt angle.
I almost gave up doing this experiment because it was very difficult to do. At first, I
started with dowels of 5, 10, 15cm. The dowels floated perfectly with no tilt angles. I
kept reducing the length each time. It took me a lot of time to keep cutting wooden
dowels and testing them. I could not find additional information on the internet on
what to expect. Also, the orange colored Jell-O that I used for my first experiment did
not stain well. The dowels flipped over in the Jell-O and it was difficult to see a
distinct line.
If I had to do this experiment again, I would probably add Easter egg dye to the JellO to make the stain of tilt angle more distinct. I would cut dyes at shorter lengths of
less than 0.5 cm. I noticed a wide range in the size of angles I measured for each
trial. I would like to try the experiment with dowels of different materials/density.

PICTURES-RESULTS AT LAST!

FAILED EXPERIMENTS
CYLINDERS TOO LONG TO YIELD RESULTS