Why is the earth spherical?

Answer 1

Simple answer: because it's large and dense.

Since everything generates a gravitational field from a single point (an imaginary point - the Center of Gravity), gravity "radiates" in all directions more or less equally. So if every particle (water, sand, atmosphere) of a composite body is attracted to one single point, the resultant overall shape is round.

Note: Earth actually bulges out a little at the equator due to differences in angular surface velocity.

Answer 2

Any particle in any body is pulled towards the center of mass of the body by the gravitational force. There always exists a sphere of some radius around the center of mass of the body that contains only particles of that body. Erosion and the pressure of "mountains" that protrude beyond the surface of the sphere cause material to flow downhill until a new sphere of slightly larger radius is formed. In theory, this would continue until the body was perfectly spherical. In practice the strength of the material forming the mountains resists this erosion for a very long time.

If the body is spinning, some of the gravitational force must be used to balance "centrifugal" force, and the result is an oblate spheroid or ellipsoid..

Answer 3

The earth is not, in fact spherical, but it is so close to it, most people (except some) view it as spherical; this is because if gravity is pulling in from the centre all mass wishes to be as close as it can be; and a sphere is the way this is most easiest accomplished,

that is also why stars, other planets and most moons (mars's moons are too small to have enough gravity so they have not assembled themselves yet) are also spherical

Hope This Answers Your Question

Answer 4

In actual fact, the earth is an oblate sphereoid. This means that it is slightly flattened at the poles.Why?! This is because of gravity, as gravity pulls everything into the centre of a point, the matter attempts to distribute itself in an equal shape so that stress factors are equal all over the mass.This shape is the sphere or oblate sphereoid.The flattening at the poles is caused by the earth's spin. As it spins, it bulges at the equator(centrefugal forces) and therefore flattens at the poles.

Answer 5

Cause God made it that way! (It's all so simple if people'd just ACCEPT that!)

Answer 6

God made it that way. just chill.