Question

why are igloos dome shaped

Answer 1

Using the dome shape for an igloo is actually very smart for many reasons. One reason is that it doesn’t require any interior structural support, either while being built or once it is completed. In the Arctic, where hunters travel light and where there are minimal building materials, an igloo can be made using only snow. The dome shape is also very structurally strong. As the builder continues to construct the igloo and curve the sides while making sure the blocks don’t fall into the interior of the igloo, the final block–also known as the keystone–is cut slightly larger than necessary. Once the builder finally fits the keystone block into place, cutting it and fitting it snugly, the dome will be strong enough that the builder could stand on top of it if he wanted to.

In terms of physics, a dome, which can be thought of as being made up of many arches, redirects the force of gravity or compression forces, downwards in multiple directions. The keystone of the igloo is also the center of mass for the structure which means that there is a stable equilibrium in the opposing forces. An igloo could also be said to have potential energy which, hopefully, will not become kinetic energy. In other words, the snow blocks will remain in place and not fall into the interior of the igloo.

Using a dome shape is smart for another reason. It encloses a large volume of usable space and, if the base is dug down further, a grown person can comfortably stand inside the igloo.

Answer 2

Not only is the igloo's dome shape a smart choice, its construction material–snow–is also ideal. ... Any heat generated inside the igloo will remain inside. Snow is also a good insulator because of the air trapped inside the individual snowflakes. And, in the Arctic winter, snow is everywhere




Hope you like my answer :)