If a solid semicylindrical block (a block-letter D) is placed on its curved side on a horizontal table, the top (the flat side) will be parallel to the table.

The table is tilted by an angle, a, perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder. What angle will the top of the block form with the table now?

Assume angle a is small enough to prevent the block from slipping or tipping over.

(In reply to Not really helpfull first thoughts by Hugo)

I think the cross section is a semicircular disk since D is described as "semicylindrical" in the problem statement.  This puts the center of gravity 4r/3*pi down from the center of the disk of radius r, according to MathWorld.

Posted by Richard on 2006-01-16 19:40:09