2006-07-05 12:15:52 · 21 answers · asked by Mike B 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
While mass does warp spacetime (and that warpage is gravity), the earth isn't even close to being big enough to warp it that much. Close to the earth spacetime is very close to being Minkowskian (i.e. flat).
2006-07-05 12:20:45 · answer #1 · answered by mathematician 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i could go on and on about space time and pinical gravity, but lets just ask this. if space time were warping the flat earth around its mass, then travelling around the planet would effectively cross us through a transition point in time. That would mean that traveling around the world would push us through the infinity of time, and either us, or the planet would change drastically. because people have done this feat, and nothing really changed.. we know the planet is round.
Oh yeah, and furthermore: time is the 4th dimension, that means that 3 dimensions can very easily exist in spacetime.. and there is no apparent reason that the planet would be flat when it just requires so much less energy to be round.
2006-07-05 19:28:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, to warp flat spacetime enough to be completely spherical would require the Earth to be as dense as a blackhole. However that would make Earth entirely uninhabitable. So I think the answer is that Earth is REALLY REALLY spherical.
2006-07-05 19:27:10 · answer #3 · answered by PhysicsDude 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know, back in the olden olden days, people did actually think that the earth was flat. They were always afraid that they would sail right off the edge of the earth! But since then it has been scientifically proven that the earth is actually round! The time distance for instance, it's different almost everywhere u go! If the earth was flat, it would be one time on one side, and one time on the other side. But wherever you go, there's a different time! That's why like flat maps of the world are inacurate because the earth is actually round not flat. Trust me I spent like 2 weeks studying this stuff . . .
2006-07-05 19:27:57 · answer #4 · answered by lee_lee_wolf 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look in the sky at other planets, sun and moon. Why would earth be the only object that is not spherical?
2006-07-05 19:20:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is spherical. Mass warps space-time, but not just space and not just time.
2006-07-05 19:17:46 · answer #6 · answered by satanorsanta 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the earth is spherical. Proof has been documented, using mathmatic, photography and common sense. Collectively, the edcuated members of society have excepted the fact.
2006-07-05 19:21:01 · answer #7 · answered by K D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
earth is spherical because it like rolling a ball of play dough, spinning makes the earth round and so does the gravity and oceans.
2006-07-05 22:50:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually it's not spherical OR flat, it's ellipsoid. It's more like a slightly flattened egg.
2006-07-05 19:20:12 · answer #9 · answered by mikah_smiles 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the earth is really spherical, it doesnt just appear that way. we have sent sattelites in space which proves that earth is spherical.
2006-07-05 19:18:54 · answer #10 · answered by blondie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋