2006-06-15 01:25:13 · 11 answers · asked by lawrence m 1 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Pictures from space, satellites revolving around the earth, and astronauts who have been up there testifying that its round, our different time zones, el nino, la nina, seasons... too many in fact
2006-06-15 01:30:29 · answer #1 · answered by smashingly.smashing 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The shape of the earth was long known to be round, Aristotle and Pythagros had long argued that the earth was sphere and cast a round shadow over the moon during a lunar eclipse.
Calculating the earth's centrifugal and gravitational force combined proves that the earth is a sphere.
Royal Library of Alexandria had a collection of a half million scrolls, some of which contain evidence that the earth is round.
A good example to understand the geometry behind Eratosthenes' calculation is to take a slice of pizza and use it to calculate the number of slices make out 1 pizza.
http://www.wcc.hawaii.edu/aerospace/curriculum/shapesize.html
The shape of the earth was believed to be round by the ancient Greeks. Eratosthenes made the first accurate estimation of the earth being round. He knew that on the first day of summer, the sun was reflected in a well at Syene, modern-day Aswan.
This indicated that Syene is on a direct line between then and the centre of the earth. Assuming that sunrays are parallel at Alexandria, the angle of the shadow there would be equal between Alexandria and Syene, from the centre of the earth. The earth's distance would thus be 50 times the distance.
During that time there was no means of determining the distance accurately. You can find out more of Eratosthenes' project in our website under 'Theories'.
2006-06-15 08:35:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even Aristotle knew the answer. He didn't have the technology to know that the earth is round, but he was capable to say that. You gotta use logic, man. You're saying we gotta walk from one point to the same point by circling the earth? My oh my! It's 2006, and people are still...
2006-06-15 08:30:35 · answer #3 · answered by Ch'é'étiin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you ever spent a winter in Fairbanks Alaska you might doubt that fact. The sun seems to travel laterally across the horizon, not really rising or setting.
2006-06-15 08:33:57 · answer #4 · answered by jen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have pictures from space to prove that it is round.
2006-06-15 08:28:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We believe so because it has been scientifically proven, and we are in a era of scientific craze.
2006-06-15 09:06:16 · answer #6 · answered by xqueenyx 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my government told me. it must be true. i try not to do any research like observe how boats seem to sink as they get farther out.
2006-06-15 08:29:41 · answer #7 · answered by dude 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
gravity
2006-06-21 13:20:00 · answer #8 · answered by Starscream 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont know ask someone smart
2006-06-15 08:27:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
by technology.
2006-06-15 08:28:17 · answer #10 · answered by James Bond 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋