Jeremy Molayem

Professor Haskell
Calculus 125, 9:00 A.M. Section
4 November 2010
Modeling using Derivatives: The Decay of Beer Foam
As beer foam decays, the change in volume of the foam should be proportional to the
change in time. Change in V (volume) over volume should be equal to the change in time
multiplied by a constant. After algebraic manipulation, this model can be expressed with dV/dt=-
kV, with V being volume and k being a constant. Though we have derived this model, we can
compare its predictions with an experiment of the beer, Erdinger Weissbier. As beer was poured
into a cylindrical glass, the height was measured over time in an experiment, in which height is h
(centimeters) and time is t (seconds). Below are the experiment results:

t 0 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 150 180 210 240 300 360
h 17 16.1 14.9 14 13.2 12.5 11.9 11.2 10.7 9.7 8.9 8.3 7.5 6.3 5.2

Knowing that this glass is cylindrical, its volume is equal to some number times its
height, or V=ah. Similarly, V is equal to ah because a is simply some number multiplied by the
variable h. Replacing the earlier expression in which V equaled -kV, we get ah equal to kah.
After dividing both sides of the equation by a, we finally come to the model in which h=-kh.
So, how fast does the height collapse given a particular set of data? To estimate the
derivative of h, we can attain the difference in sequential height values divided by the difference
in time values. Through the values of shifted h starting at 16.1 to 5.2 subtracted by the values
of h starting at 17 ending at 6.3, we get a list of values, these being the differences height.
Through the values of shifted t starting at 15 to 360 subtracted by the values of t starting at 0 to
300, we attain the differences in our time values. Therefore, estimating our h using this method,
h is equal to the shifted h minus h over shifted t minus t. This tells us the rate of change of the
height solely based on the data. Graphically, h appears to be starting at 0.06 and approaching
zero. Thus, the proportionality between h and h appears reasonable because the tangent lines on
h are becoming less negative and approaching zero as well. Furthermore, if one chooses to plot
the h values against h, the graph appears to look like the diagonal y=-x graph. H values are h
values are thus very proportional. While the data shows us an h, the data simply paints a small
slice of a much bigger picture.

The model, h=(-k)(h), can tell us a more accurate rate of foam decay. But, how do we
find a k that can go through the graph of h that has the smallest differences with the h values? It
is truethe graph of h resembles the diagonal y=-x graph. A k value less than or greater than
one will alter the angle of that diagonal. Similarly, if we choose a k of 100 or -100, then
difference will be great. So, lets find the best fit. In order to do this, we can use the method of
least squaresa method necessary because we want a concave up, positive quadratic to employ
the vertex. We calculate a value of k that makes the sum of all of these differences as
(h(0)+kh(0))^2 +(h(15) + kh(15))^2) ++(h(300) + kh(300))^2 smallest. Understanding that
quadratics are smallest at their vertex, the sum of these differences will be smallest when k=-
b/2a. After expansion, our b is 2h(i)h(i) and our a is h(i)^2. Note: i is not 0, 15, 30300. The
dummy variable i is used to quickly find the sum of this sequential list of 1 to 14 terms. Using
a loop can give us the sums which will give us a b and an a, these values in the vertex formula
yield a value of 0.0036. After plotting h=-kh, the line appears to fit quite well. We have derived
the model. We have fitted the model. Let us now validate the model.

Indeed, simply understanding how fast beer decays approximately every 15
th
and 30
th

second is not enough. We can and should consider every second from 1 to 360. Since we know
h and the value of k that fits the data best, we can estimate the height of foam at the 1
st
second,
2
nd
second, and so on and so forth to the 360
th
second. We find the first second value by adding
h(0) to the rate of change at zero, or equivalently, h(0). In other words, h(1)=h(0)+(-kh(0)).
After plotting the value of h at every second, the graph looks to reasonably agree with the graph
of the data. In fact, the plot of h against every second up to 360 provides a slightly smoother
graph over the data, validating the datas correctness. While the predictions of the model and the
similarity to the experiment data appears convincing, this close fit holds for only cylindrical
glasses. A model to determine the change in foam height can also be derived for a conical glass.

After understanding how beer foam collapses in a cylindrical glass, we can apply this
knowledge to a conical glass. The fact that the model shows us that V=-kV can be applied to a
conical glass as well. After using geometric and algebraic manipulation, the derivative of the
height with respect to time of a conical glass is

H=k[(1/192)(h+20)^3 -125/3]*[64/(h^2)+40h+400].

Though this expression is quite long, difficult to understand, and slightly different from
the cylindrical glass, it equals h for the conical glass. The decay of beer foam in this conical
glass can also be found over the 360 second period. Utilizing the fact that h(1) is equal to h(0)
plus h(0) and so on and so forth, the conical glasss height derivative can be applied. Rather
than kh(i-1), the derivative of the height of the conical glass can replace that expression. Now
that we understand the model for the foam decay of beer in a cylindrical glass and conical glass,
we can compare the two. At a height of 20 cm, the foam appears to only collapse to a height of
around 8.5 cm at the end of the 360 second period. The cylindrical glass presents a much
different story. Originating at the same height of 20 cm, the foam in the cylindrical glass quickly
collapses to a height of around 5.5 cm at the end of the interval.

Is it better to serve Erdinger Weissbier in a conical or cylindrical glass? If the intention is
to market a foamy beer in which there is not quick foam decay, then it would be best to serve the
product in a conical glass. But, for marketing a product in which the foam bubbles collapse
quickly, stick with a cylindrical glass.