Hey it’s time to shape up! Think about it! You pay with round coins for a round doughnut
with a hole, pass the octagonal stop sign on the road, step into the house, turn on
the round light bulb, then the rectangular TV and ask yourself: why do objects have such
shapes? Well, I’m going to tell you.
The bulb is round because the light is distributed evenly this way. The tungsten thread (which
is lit) should be in the center. And in the round shape it’s easiest to mark the center.
Besides, these light bulbs are cheaper and easier to produce.
Toilet paper is roll-shaped because machines making those rolls process them much faster
than individual leafs. Earlier on, toilet paper was sold in square sheets, but such
production required more energy and time. Donuts have a hole in the center so that the
dough is evenly fried. There’s even a story that a Captain Gregory, then a 16-year-old
sailor, made a hole in a lump of dough, which was then fried to create the world's first
doughnut. And no, he was not a cop! Initially, coins were minted in the form of
rectangular ingots made of an alloy of gold and silver. But it turned out that round coins
are easier to count and mint. Also, sharp edges on rectangular coins wore out more easily.
Stop signs are the only octagonal road signs. This way, they’re recognized from afar and
distinguished from other road signs even from the backside.
Triangular signs warn the driver of hazards on the road. Round signs regulate the traffic
speed. And rectangular signs are informative: they give information about localities and
routes. TVs are rectangular because movies are made
for this screen format. But they used to be round before, since they had round cathode
ray tubes (CRTs) inside. And these tubes were round because it was cheaper to produce them
like that. But even though the lenses are round, it doesn't
matter: the image is projected onto square-shaped film. And it is square because it's easier
to use it this way. Camera lenses are round because this is the
most convenient form to focus the image. Sugar sticks are elongated because they don’t
have air inside this way. After all, if the air gets in, there will be moisture, and the
sugar hardens. But the main reason is that sugar is very easy to add to tea. You can
do it even with one hand. Place the stick on your index and middle fingers and push
your thumb on the stick. Previously, sugar was produced in large blocks,
and pieces had to be chipped from it. Small square packets appeared after a sugar factory
owner’s wife cut her finger when trying to chip a piece of sugar from a large block.
The director then decided to make sugar that would fit perfectly in the cup.
Airplane windows are round for a safer flight. If the aircraft windows were square, pressure
and strong airflow would accumulate in their corners, which would lead to loss of pressurization.
With rounded windows, the load is distributed and doesn't collect anywhere.
According to one theory, the symbol of the heart looks like that because Aristotle described
the human heart as a three-chamber structure "with a small dent in the middle." Artists
and scientists in the Middle Ages created the first symbol of the heart according to
Aristotle's description. Bananas have a curved shape because they try
to get closer to the sun while growing. According to the most popular theory, the
baguette got a long shape to make it easier to break off. During construction of the Paris
subway, the manager was afraid of conflicts between the workers because each of them had
a knife to cut bread with. So he asked the company baker to create bread that wouldn't
need to be cut. Thus, baguette appeared, and the manager took away the sharp things.
The "Turbo" brand gum is different from all the rest because of its unusual shape. It
looks like it’s been run over by a race car.
One of the most popular theories says people used pots made with a special kind of clay
called "pygg" to keep coins there. They called it a "pygg" bank. Since the word sounds like
"pig," potters started making money jars in the shape of those curly-tailed animals. Thus,
we got the "piggy bank." Also, the pig symbolizes prosperity and wealth in many countries.
Most water bottles are round not only because it's easier to hold them in your hand, but
also because the manufacturer's labels are easier to put on them.
The shapes of pasta are so different because a certain kind of it fits a certain sauce.
Thin pasta like capellini is more suitable for light sauces and ingredients. Thick, ribbed
pasta, like penne, is good for more viscous sauces and vegetable stews.
The round Pringles can was made because it's easier to transport. Chips inside have a small
chance of being broken. The chips are saddle-shaped for the exact same reason, by the way.
Pizza is round for the heat to evenly distribute throughout the pizza while cooking. Also,
it's easy to divide into equal parts. And the pizza box is square because it's cheaper
in production and easier to fit a round shape into it.
Pans are much like pizza: they’re round for even distribution of heat and ease of
washing. But most importantly, of course, you can throw and catch pancakes while cooking.
A hockey puck was originally made from a lacrosse ball. The ball was cut into three parts and
the middle was used as a puck. Almost 100 years later, they decided to abandon this
tradition and began to glue two pieces of flat rubber from tires. But, such a puck was
short-lived. Only in the '90s, the puck took its final form.
We don’t know exactly who was the first inventor of glasses. In Ancient Rome, people
read texts using a round glass bowl filled with water. This inspired people to new ideas,
and closer to the 13th century, the first glasses appeared.
Other shapes of glasses only came about in the 20th century — because of fashion. People
realized round glasses didn't fit all head shapes, so the frames began to change shape
and size. The lollipop stick has two small holes to
fix the candy. When the stick is dipped in hot liquid syrup, it flows through these holes.
When it’s completely solidified, it holds firmly on the stick.
Diamonds are a rare form of carbon that is found deep in the earth's crust. Initially,
a diamond’s appearance isn't very attractive, but when it’s cut and polished, it shines.
Most diamonds have a round shape with slightly pointed corners. In this form, a diamond sparkles!
The size of a cooking hat depends on the role and status of the kitchen worker. Chefs are
kings and queens of the kitchen, so they wear the tallest hats. From a practical point,
this is also convenient – thanks to the high hat, it's easy to find the chef among
the rest of the staff. It’s also easier the hide the Rat Chef on your head. (Ratatouille)
The number of hat creases indicates the number of ways to cook eggs the chef knows.
And that’s how it all shapes up!