Rolling with Reuleaux

Have you ever wondered why the cover of a manhole is nearly always round? Why isn’t it oval or square?

Reuleaux curve based on an equilateral triangle.

Reuleaux curves based on the pentagon (top) and heptagon (bottom).

The usual answer is that a circular lid, unlike a square or an oval cover, won’t fall through the opening. There’s no way to position a round lid so that it can slip through a slightly smaller hole of the same shape.