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Why are the windows on ships circle in shape? Why aren't they square?

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Why are the windows on ships circle in shape? Why aren't they square?

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  1. As has been said, mainly for the strength. The DeHaviland Comet was the first pressurized British passenger jet, but it was doomed due to using square windows in the fuselage. After a period, stress cracks would open up in the corners and cause an in-flight breakup!

    Also, a square egg wouldn't hold up as well as a rounded egg!


  2. Ships use both square and round windows. The round windows are much stronger due to there round shape and these are placed in the hull square windows are much weaker and will pop out of it's frame when punched by a wave. These windows are mounted high in the super structure where it is hoped that won't be hit by a wave though this does happen anyway. there are videos of ships bridges having there windows popped out by large waves.

  3. As uncle joe said . plus the reason that the corners on windows are the weakest point so cannot take as much pressure as a rounded window, that is taking a wave so less chance of leaks or said window blowing out, aircraft have "rounded" windows for the same reason

  4. It makes them easier to plug if the ship is in trouble - listing badly, taking on water etc.  It would be very diffiult to effectively plug the corners of square windows.

  5. the correct term is portholes or lights (port holes if they open, lights if they do not open) - not windows.  a round shape is stronger than a square shape, although you do see square or rectangle ports holes or lights on more and more ships now.

  6. Yes, shape with many corners like widow is very difficult to seal the water..round shape is easy to seal 100 % and the same time can reduce the the area under pressure..

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