DataGenetics took a quick look at why cans (metal cans, like tin cans, but we know they're mostly all steel nowadays) are the shapes that they are.
There's some math involved - calculus, natch - to find the optimum point at which the least surface area is needed to maximize the volume within a cylinder, and the answer that they (he? she? it?) reached is that a can should have the same diameter as height (or a height twice its radius as shown above) to maximize the volume per surface area.
Why then are the cans in their pantry so differently proportioned?
They cover that, too, listing a number of other factors that might come into play with can design.
It's a nice read and very much along the lines of reminding students that material properties aren't ever the only determining factor for production. Cost and customer comfort come into play, too.
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