• Destraight
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    1 year ago

    Why can’t we make a different kind of container to hold grain? Why does it have to be shaped this way?

    • ricecake@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      1 year ago

      We can and do. Some of them a rectangular or square with trapezoids on the bottom.

      Cylinders are strong and make it easy to support the weight, and if you stack it tall it can just be poured into whatever you use to ship it.

      Heavy machinery is cheaper now than it was in the past, so if we need to use a different shaped container and use machines to get stuff out, they can do that now without it being too expensive.

      All things being equal, people will use the cheapest effective solution. Other form factors aren’t particularly safer or anything.