Why is the Earth round?
2007-02-10 12:05:44 · 14 answers · asked by trphuong 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
gravity
2007-02-10 12:10:58 · answer #1 · answered by bksrbttr 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the shape that gets the most stuff into the smallest volume. Gravity is trying to pull everything into the center of the Earth, and the natural result in a sphere shape. For small asteroids, less than about 100 miles wide, gravity is weak enough and rock strong enough to hold an irregular shape, but for a planet as big as the Earth, or even as big as the Moon, gravity is stronger than rock. A 200 mile tall mountain cannot support its own weight on Earth and will collapse in earthquakes and landslides until it is only a few miles high.
2007-02-10 21:18:43 · answer #2 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The earth isn't round (exactly). It is more like the shape of a squatted ball as if someone was standing on a ball.
One reason for this shape is because because the earth is rotating, which has a tendency to "throw" matter away from its center of attraction (centripetal force), counteracting gravity where the earth is traveling fastest. However, this isn't the only reason. There are several factors that combined allows this shape, such as a molten layer. If the earth was solid all the way through, then it could assume a more spherical shape.
2007-02-10 20:17:48 · answer #3 · answered by Scarp 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Strangly enough the Earth is not quite a perfect sphere (but it is more spherical than the best made ball bearings).. it is somewhat pear shaped.. buldging a bit in the middle (or slightly above it)...
The reason it is spherical is because of gravity.. everything is attracted toward the center of the mass.. or the center of the earth...
It is distorted by outside forces of gravity like the moon and by the momentum of rotation (greater on the equator than at the poles.. and by the wobble in the rotation...
Take a look at a drop of water RIGHT AFTER it comes off of an eye dropper.. it will be spherical because of surface tension.. similar to the earth (only gravity is more significant for the earth than surface tension.. uhmm.. I THINK)
2007-02-10 20:20:18 · answer #4 · answered by ♥Tom♥ 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, you see in pictures that the Earth is round. But really, it is in an oval shape. This is because when the Earth was dominated by lava, it was spinning SO fast that it was literally flattened a slight bit. Quite frankly, the Earth is still being flattened today due to volcanoes and kinetic energy.
2007-02-10 22:58:40 · answer #5 · answered by Shep 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the earth is not actually round it is an oblate spheroid (flattened ball) BUT
Gravity pulls all of the matter that makes up the earth in an almost equal amount, bringing it close to a sphere (there is a bulge around the equator from rotation)
2007-02-10 20:12:43 · answer #6 · answered by startrektosnewenterpriselovethem 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The earth is not perfectly round but is an oblate spheroid.
It maybe got it's shape because of gravity.
Correct me if I'm wrong...please....
Thanks!!!=)
2007-02-11 04:08:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
For the same volume and mass containment the sphere uses less area than a cube.
The sphere is the most efficient shape to contain mass
Ther fore it behoved that the earth should be a spherical containment of mass.
2007-02-10 20:52:19 · answer #8 · answered by goring 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Startrekt is correct, with one additional note. The southern hemisphere bulges just a tiny bit more than the northern, so even though the earth is an oblate spheroid it is not symmetrical north to south.
2007-02-10 20:48:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
because of gravity. the earth is so massive that everything is being pulled toward the center. this naturally makes it a sphere.
2007-02-10 20:11:13 · answer #10 · answered by Sara 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I often wondered the same thing, except I always wonder why ALL planets are round.
2007-02-10 20:11:42 · answer #11 · answered by Carl G. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋