Comment Re:manhole covers (Score 1) 1247
Saying manhole covers are round because the manhole is round is just plain stupid. That's like saying keys look the way they do because they fit into keyholes. The two were designed in tandem, and the question really comes down to: why are manholes, and their covers, round?
I read down the existing replies and was surprised to not see the two biggest reasons in my mind:
1) Manhole covers are HEAVY... and round covers are easy to move around. Just roll them.
2) A circular cover CANNOT fall into the manhole. This may seem like a small point, but having to lift a non-circular metal cover back up from the bottom of the manhole would just suck. Not to mention if you happened to be in the whole at the time.
I read down the existing replies and was surprised to not see the two biggest reasons in my mind:
1) Manhole covers are HEAVY... and round covers are easy to move around. Just roll them.
2) A circular cover CANNOT fall into the manhole. This may seem like a small point, but having to lift a non-circular metal cover back up from the bottom of the manhole would just suck. Not to mention if you happened to be in the whole at the time.
