Why Are Manhole Covers Round?

Although it may seem ordinary, this was actually one of the questions Microsoft asked candidates during the recruitment process: Why are manhole covers round?

Ask yourself the question again now, during the recruitment process If it were you, what would you answer?

Even though there is no single answer to this question, there is a ‘sought for’ answer.

Manholes, which we witness step by step and which are an important part of the city infrastructure, are, roughly speaking, used for various purposes. These are underground plumbing holes. The covers used to cover these holes where maintenance, repair and connection operations are carried out are equally important.

These covers are everywhere it is round If you think about it a bit, you’ll realize.

So what do you think are the reasons?

One of the simplest reasons why manhole covers are roundThis is to enable them to better withstand the pressure of the soil around the cover.

round shape, This provides the best resistance to pressure. Additionally, producing a round lid is much easier and less costly than producing a square or rectangular lid.

These reasons are the first ones that come to mind as answers, but they are not the ones sought.

The main reason is that There is no possibility of the round cap falling out of the hole. Rectangle, square, hexagon, pentagon… it is possible for all of them to fall geometrically in some way. But the only shape that cannot pass through itself is the circle.

Here’s why it’s that simple and it’s mathematical! When you see these covers on the road, you will no longer think that they are round because they look ‘aesthetic’.

Our other content that may interest you: