2006-07-23 06:09:45 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
This was proved by ancient Greeks and Egyptians.
If you stand at one place at noon and put a stick straight into the ground (Hold a string with a small rock tied to it so you know it's going straight into the ground) the sun will cast a SLIGHT shadow northward (this assumes you are north of the equator). Measure this shadow.
Travel north from that point a couple of hundred miles and at noon, do the same thing. The shadow will be longer.
The ONLY way that can happen is if the planet is curved. The sun is in the same position, you are driving the stick straight in - so the only reason for the angle to be greater is if you are on a curved surface!
Basic geometry will give you the difference in the angles, from which you can actually calculate the SIZE of the sphere... which was done in ancient times and found to only be off by a matter of a few thousand miles. Not bad for people who were just using sticks, rocks, string and their minds, huh?
2006-07-23 06:19:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
Discworld is round, the Earth is spherical (or near enough).
Watch TV when someone is being interviewed outdoors in some distant part of the world. The fact that at the same time the sun is at different heights is a dead giveaway that the earth cannot be flat.
2006-07-23 07:55:18 · answer #2 · answered by m.paley 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The earth is round, not a perfect sphere but close enough.
Evidence: the horizon and that the sun is always perpendicular to the local plane at some point on the earth.
2006-07-23 06:23:59 · answer #3 · answered by The Yeti 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Round is only 2 dimensions, the Earth occupies 3, so it is in fact a sphere, albeit one that is slightly squashed. Which seems sort of appropriate.
How do I know? Patrick Moore said so and since he as been around since the beginning of time, he must be right.
2006-07-23 06:16:59 · answer #4 · answered by Paul 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Becoz I saw some cool pics taken by astronauts which showed earth round but not completely hence i believed
2006-07-23 06:15:20 · answer #5 · answered by navi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not quite round, but the math works out well. Anyway, if it were flat and you went up on a skyscraper on a clear day with a telescope, you'de be able to see the most of it.
2006-07-23 06:13:18 · answer #6 · answered by BigPappa 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. every other planet and stars are round so why would earth be an exeption?
2. sattelite images of the earth
3. when you look at ships going near the horizon, the ships look like they are sinking
2006-07-23 06:57:54 · answer #7 · answered by Rajan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Earth is really round!!! You can see that when you look at the sky!!!
2006-07-23 06:13:54 · answer #8 · answered by louisa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I went round it.
2006-07-23 06:11:58 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to Google Earth! The proof this there!!!!!
2006-07-23 06:16:08 · answer #10 · answered by Emma 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋