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Manhole Cover Problem

Mathematics

★Exhibit Content: Properties of Curves of Constant Width ★Interaction: Mechanical Interaction ★Operation: Select wooden blocks of different shapes and place them into the holes respectively. ★Exhibit Description: The exhibit features wellhead and manhole cover models of different shapes. Visitors pick up manhole covers of various shapes and try to insert them into their respective well holes at any position. You will find that only the circular manhole cover will not fall into the hole. It turns out that both the circle and the Reuleaux triangle are curves of constant width. The properties of curves of constant width ensure that a manhole cover of this shape has no position smaller than the width of the well hole, so it will not fall into the well. Other manhole covers cannot guarantee that they will not fall into the well at certain positions. ★Scientific Principle: A square cover can fall into a square hole of the same size because the diagonal of the square hole is greater than its side length. A circular cover cannot fall into a circular hole of the same size because the size of a circle is fixed, that is, the distance between two parallel lines tangent to the circle is constant. It utilizes the fact that all diameters within the same circle are equal. Only a circular manhole cover has no diagonal, so no matter how the cover is moved, it will not fall, thus ensuring the safety of workers below!

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Principle Display: ★★★★★ Interaction Effect: ★★★ Ease of Installation: ★★★★★ Durability: ★★★★ Overall Rating: ★★★★

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