Isn't it weird?

Question

Isn't it weird that the earth is 'flat' but if you you started off at eastern Canada and you crossed the ocean and just kept going east you'd evenually get back to where you started from? I found this amazing, but i'm probably missing something out. Feedback please.

Answer 1

The Earth isn't flat. It's a spheroid (a shape that's generally spherical like a beach ball).

To most it appears flat because it's so big. If you take an orange and zoom in on a little spot on it and keep zooming in, eventually the orange will be so big compared to the spot that you won't see the curvature and the point will appear flat.

If you are out on the ocean and it's a clear day and you are heading towards an island such as Hawaii, you wil first see the very tip of the top of the island over the horizon because of the curvature of the Earth. The Earth itself will be obscuring the lower portions of the island.

You always feel like you're right side up, even if you're in Australia, because "down" really means the direction that gravity is "pulling" you and on all points on Earth, gravity is pulling generally towards the center.

Answer 2

The world isn't flat; but the world isn't completely round either. According to the photos of Earth which took from space can show that the Earth is round alright. However, that doesn't mean the Earth is completely round. The middle part of Earth (which the Equator pass) are a little larger; but the North Pole and the South Pole are a little flat. Generally, it's a shape which kind of like an egg (if you prefer football....which is also kind of similar, even though not so similar at all).

Answer 3

What you're missing is that the earth isn't flat. It looks so, but if you climbed a high enough ladder, or looked out from a high flying airplane, it would look round. In fact, the earth is so perfectly round that if it were reduced to the size of a pool ball, it would be actually rounder and smoother than a pool ball.

It's an amazing wonderful thing, our planet, and the more you learn about it, the more you'll be amazed.

Answer 4

The Earth is not flat but it isn't perfectly round either. Technically, it is an "oblate spheroid" which means it's slightly flattened due to its rotation speed.

Ancient civilizations believed for aeons that the sun revolved around the Earth because they could see the sun rise but could not see the Earth turn. We now know that the Earth revolves around the sun which only goes to show that what your senses perceive doesn't necessarily give you the whole story.

Medieval peoples used to believe that a pile of unattended grain transformed into mice over time - completely failing to understand that mice are mobile and can seek out and devour grain all by their lonesomes.

See what knowledge and learning can do for you?

Answer 5

by 'flat' i assume u mean that from here to a few hundred yards away, it seems to be even instead of downhill. The curvature of the earth is very slight, which does make it seem amazing that you would go around in a circle. The horizon is a sign of the curve of the earth though. if the world was flat, a man looking west in Kansas would see a hazy image of the Rocky Mountains. On our round planet, he sees the sky, because the land gradually curves away from sight.

Answer 6

The world is round

Answer 7

Gravity makes it seem flat but it is just an illision. The world is round.

Answer 8

Well i say thats outrageous. The world is flat and you fall off the edge.

Answer 9

nope, someone is having you on. You'd be eaten by monsters before you ever reached the edge

Answer 10

if it is flat u woudnt have reached back to eastern canada