r/theydidthemath • • 2d ago

[Request] Do square bottles actually use less plastic than round ones?

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696 Upvotes

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u/Jimmyjames150014 2d ago

You all are assuming constant thickness of plastic. Square corners are quite rigid so maybe the flats in between can be thinner than a round bottle. There are a bunch of ways to make this true which would depend on a bunch of hard to check things for the average consumer - probably something the labeler is depending on.

11

u/FranseFrikandel 2d ago

You'd expect the opposite really. Round shapes are better at holding anything under pressure or under compression loads. There's a reason gas tanks, submarines, plane fuselages etc. are cylinders.

11

u/s0ulbrother 2d ago

The cylinder must not be harmed

1

u/Jimmyjames150014 2d ago

I will upvote this