Why are manhole covers round?

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: LeiZaK

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: LeiZaK

Originally posted by: Qwest
the cover can't fall in that way. impossible.

Not impossible... just very unlikey. Any other shape would be able to fall in pretty easily.

no, it's impossible.

If the round manhole cover was melted or otherwise bent out of shape... or if there was even a sinkhole near the manhole, it could fall in. Just very unlikely that those things would happen.

Don't forget if a nuclear bomb destroyed the road, it could also fall in.

Also, if the manhole cover was shot with a shrink ray, the shrunken manhole cover could fall in.

 

[JS80]

BC the cover is heavy and you can roll it.

 

[Baked]

So they can play frisbee w/ the covers.

 

[Otaking]

Originally posted by: Baked
So they can play frisbee w/ the covers.

TMNT would also agree that they make good frisbee weapons.

 

[TitanDiddly]

1. Can't fall in
2. Pipe is round, cover is round.
3. Strength. Same reason pipes are round.

 

[hypn0tik]

Because you touch yourself at night.

 

[Leper Messiah]

this is a repost, I just know it...

 

[ed21x]

manholes are round because they are created using a giant drill. also, you don't need to orient the cover, equal distribution of pressure on the cover while its getting ran over, etc...

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Because it reminds the man of boobies and other womanly features so he's eager to jump in.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Originally posted by: Leper Messiah
this is a repost, I just know it...

It is.

 

[joecool]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: LeiZaK

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: LeiZaK

Originally posted by: Qwest
the cover can't fall in that way. impossible.

Not impossible... just very unlikey. Any other shape would be able to fall in pretty easily.

no, it's impossible.

If the round manhole cover was melted or otherwise bent out of shape... or if there was even a sinkhole near the manhole, it could fall in. Just very unlikely that those things would happen.

Don't forget if a nuclear bomb destroyed the road, it could also fall in.

qft ...

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Qwest
the cover can't fall in that way. impossible.

there is a lip inside the holds the cover up. no reason that that same lip couldn't be done for other shapes.

 

[hypn0tik]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Qwest
the cover can't fall in that way. impossible.

there is a lip inside the holds the cover up. no reason that that same lip couldn't be done for other shapes.

No. If you stood the cover on the side, the diameter of the cover is larger than the diameter of the lip, making it impossible to fall through in any orientation. The same can't be said about a square, ellipse or some other shape.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Qwest
the cover can't fall in that way. impossible.

there is a lip inside the holds the cover up. no reason that that same lip couldn't be done for other shapes.

No, you're missing the point. A square or rectangular lid could fall in vertically diagonally, same with an elipse.

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Other reasons:
pipes are round. Round pipe, round cover.
Why not?
Round makes it the strongest shape for a car to drive over while giving the maximum accessible space for a person to climb in.

Exactly made that way for ease of manufacturing and compatibility.

Ausm

 

[MaxDepth]

It's one of those lame questions from interviews.

Another way to look at it: round is more cost effect (less material)

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: hypn0tik

Originally posted by: ElFenix

No. If you stood the cover on the side, the diameter of the cover is larger than the diameter of the lip, making it impossible to fall through in any orientation. The same can't be said about a square, ellipse or some other shape.

well what idiot holds a manhole cover vertically?

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Qwest
the cover can't fall in that way. impossible.

there is a lip inside the holds the cover up. no reason that that same lip couldn't be done for other shapes.

Turn a square lid on its side and insert at a 45 degree angle to one of the corners of its hole. It will fall in.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: hypn0tik

Originally posted by: ElFenix

No. If you stood the cover on the side, the diameter of the cover is larger than the diameter of the lip, making it impossible to fall through in any orientation. The same can't be said about a square, ellipse or some other shape.

well what idiot holds a manhole cover vertically?

The guy rolling it to move it. And it doesn't seem like it would be that difficult to drop a heavy manhole cover while moving it, and have it fall in on your coworker.

 

[hypn0tik]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: hypn0tik

Originally posted by: ElFenix

No. If you stood the cover on the side, the diameter of the cover is larger than the diameter of the lip, making it impossible to fall through in any orientation. The same can't be said about a square, ellipse or some other shape.

well what idiot holds a manhole cover vertically?

The idiot that has to take it off in the first place needs to tilt it in order to be able to do so.

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: hypn0tik

Originally posted by: ElFenix

No. If you stood the cover on the side, the diameter of the cover is larger than the diameter of the lip, making it impossible to fall through in any orientation. The same can't be said about a square, ellipse or some other shape.

well what idiot holds a manhole cover vertically?

Have you ever picked up a manhole cover?

 

[Mermaidman]

Originally posted by: MaxDepth
It's one of those lame questions from interviews.

I'm guessing my answer will eliminate me . . .

 

[xSkyDrAx]

All this talk about manholes are getting me all hot and bothered in my naughty bits

btw: I find it amusing that we can have a semi-intelligent conversation about manhole covers but seemingly nothing else.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: hypn0tik

No. If you stood the cover on the side, the diameter of the cover is larger than the diameter of the lip, making it impossible to fall through in any orientation. The same can't be said about a square, ellipse or some other shape.

well what idiot holds a manhole cover vertically?

Have you ever picked up a manhole cover?

no. all the ones in colombia are concreted down so the poor people don't steal them and sell them as scrap

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: LeiZaK

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: LeiZaK

Originally posted by: Qwest
the cover can't fall in that way. impossible.

Not impossible... just very unlikey. Any other shape would be able to fall in pretty easily.

no, it's impossible.

If the round manhole cover was melted or otherwise bent out of shape... or if there was even a sinkhole near the manhole, it could fall in. Just very unlikely that those things would happen.

That's just stupid. :roll: