Exactly what is the shape of the earth?
Flat
or
Round like a basketball
or
Egg Shape
or what?
2006-08-17 12:16:06 · 13 answers · asked by Zubli Zainordin 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
The Earth is neither a perfect sphere nor a perfect spheroid.
But, sometimes the Earth is treated as a sphere to make mathematical calculation easier
A sphere is based on a circle, that is, just as rotating a circle about an axis defined by its diameter will create a sphere Similarly rotating an ellipse about eaither its major or minor axis will produce an ellipsoid.
The ellipticity of a sphere is 0.0, whereas the ellipticity of the Earth is approximately 0.003353. The flattening phenomeno is observed at the poles and the bulging occurs at the Equator.The semi-majoe axis describes the equatorial radius and the semi-minor axis represents the polar radius. According to North American Datum defined by Clarke in 1866 the semi-major axis of this spheroid is 6,378,206.4 meters and semi-minor axis has been calculated as 6,356,583.8 meters.
Satellite technology has revealed several elliptical deviations, for example, the South Pole is closer to the Equator than the North Pole.
2006-08-20 02:14:35 · answer #1 · answered by Lutfor 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The earth is not completely round. It has a some what flatted out shape, due to rotational forces. It is larger in circumference from east to west, than from north to south. Take a basketball and push down on it, this is what the earths shape looks like.
2006-08-17 13:18:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
True Shape- Oblate spheriod. This means that the Earth is slightly flattened at the poles and slightly bulging at the Equator.
2006-08-17 13:47:58 · answer #3 · answered by angel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well in lessons teacher usually use an avocado pear o show the plates and craters but the world itself is shaped like a sphere
2006-08-17 12:22:25 · answer #4 · answered by alickson a 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you really?
Its shape closely resembles a sphere, but a little thicker at the equator.
2006-08-17 12:22:12 · answer #5 · answered by Francisco C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's an oblate spheriod. Aren't people required this in Junior High?
2006-08-18 03:55:47 · answer #6 · answered by fre_boy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's actually like a sphere. But, it's not round.
2006-08-17 22:33:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
egg shape
2006-08-17 12:21:07 · answer #8 · answered by manda 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Que Paso? No entiendo, sorry! Huevo!!
2006-08-20 14:33:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's flat, really, people who say otherwise are cursed with satan and should be burned at the stake. In fact, you should be burned at the stake, egg head!!!!!
2006-08-21 03:20:20 · answer #10 · answered by jonlon73 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋