有意思的面试题：井盖为什么是圆的？

今天在网上看到一个有趣的面试题“井盖为什么是圆的”？“Why do you think that manholes are round in shape?”

一开始没弄明白manhole是啥意思，这题看上去那么令人费解。后来网上一查，才知道这道面试题出自微软，了解面试者的分析能力。

我的回答可以是这样，从字面意思manhole就可以看出是供工程人员进出的洞，当然圆形是最适合的，而且安全性也高，在工程人员爬进爬出的时候不会有突出的棱角。

把wikipetia的答案摘抄在下面：

Reasons for the shape include:

• A round manhole cover cannot fall through its circular opening, whereas a square manhole cover may fall in if it were inserted diagonally in the hole. The existence of a "lip" holding up the lid means that the underlying hole is smaller than the cover, so that other shapes might suffice. (A Reuleaux triangle or other curve of constant width would also serve this purpose, but round covers are much easier to manufacture.)
• Round tubes are the strongest and most material-efficient shape against the compression of the earth around them, and so it is natural that the cover of a round tube assume a circular shape.
• A round manhole cover has a smaller surface than a square one, thus less material is needed to cast the manhole cover, meaning lower cost.
• The bearing surfaces of manhole frames and covers are machined to assure flatness and prevent them from becoming dislodged by traffic. Round castings are much easier to machine using a lathe.
• Circular covers do not need to be rotated to align with the manhole.
• A round manhole cover can be more easily moved by being rolled.
• A round manhole cover can be easily locked in place with a quarter turn (as is done in countries like France). They are then hard to open without a special tool. Also then they do not have to be made so heavy, because traffic passing over them cannot lift them up by suction.

对应的维基中文版没有翻译，我在这里随便翻译一下：

• 圆形井盖不会掉下去，而方形井盖如果对角折的话有可能掉到洞里。井盖需要提起，它下面的洞必须比这个盖子小，所以其他形状有可能不满足这个条件。（等边三角形或者其它等边形也满足这个条件，但是圆形盖子更容易被制造。）
  
• 圆形的管道最结实，并且比最地球上其它形状的更有效抗压力，所以很自然的圆形的管道上面设置圆形的盖子。
• 圆形井盖的表面积比方形的小，所以所需材料也少，意味着低成本。
• 井盖的表面必须加工的很平整，来应对地面交通的压力。轮铸件使用车床更容易加工。
• 圆形井盖不需要旋转来对准孔。
• 圆形的表面更容易滚动着挪动。
• 圆形的井盖可以很容易地锁定到位四分之一圈（如在法国等国家进行）。除非使用特殊工具，它们也难以打开。而且他们还不用做的非常重，以防止路面过往车辆能把他们吸起来。

引用文献：

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhole_cover