Eli5 how can the distance between the top of two cylinders change depending if one is standing up vs if the if other one is?

Question

My boss set one empty can on its side on the floor, and one standing upright on top of a toolbox. The distance from the top of the side of the can on the floor to the top of the can on the toolbox measured 49 inches. When we turned the can on the tool box onto its side and stood up the can on the floor, the distance between the top of the can on the floor to the top of the can on the tool box was only 45 inches. Can anyone explain why this measurement changed?

In: 1

Answer 1

Yeah, as odyssey explained, the difference is because the tape measure starts at different distances off the floor.

If we call the height of the toolbox top c, and assume the diameter of the can is 1 and the height is 2 (made up numbers):

First scenario (can on floor on its side is -1):
Measurement = 2 + C – 1 = 1+C

Second scenario (can on floor upright is -2):
Measurement= 1 + C – 2 = C – 1