Rain Gutter

You wish to construct a rain gutter from a long strip of metal by bending up equal width strips on either edge.The diagram shows a cross-section of the gutter. Using the sliders you can adjust [br]the width of the base of the gutter as well as the width of the bent up side strips.[br]You can adjust the angle of the side strips by dragging the RED dot.[br][br]How does the amount of water the gutter can carry vary with the angle shown in the diagram?[br][br]Does your solution behave reasonably in limiting cases? in obvious cases?[br][br]Does your solution correctly predict the angle for which the carrying capacity of the gutter is maximum?[br][br][color=#ff0000][i][b]What problems could/would you set for your students based on this applet?[/b][/i][/color][br][br][i][br][size=85][b]Adapted from "Calculus: The Analysis of Functions" by P.D. Taylor[/b][/size][/i]

Information: Rain Gutter