2007-03-17 19:55:32 · 5 answers · asked by I waltz in coke 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The earth is not so much pear shaped as a little bit oval. It bulges out in the middle, around the equator, due to the centripital force of the earths rotation.
The diameter of the earth at the equator is 7,926.41 miles (12,756.32 kilometers).
But, if you measure the earth through the poles the diameter is a bit shorter - 7,901 miles (12,715.43 km)
Thus the earth is a tad wider (25 miles / 41 km) than it is tall, giving it a slight bulge at the equator. This shape is known as an ellipsoid or more properly, geoid (earth-like).
I'm pretty sure that we knew this, from basic physics calculations, well before the astronauts went to space. Given that the variation is only 41 km in 12,715.43 km (0.3%) I would think that you couldn't even detect this visually, so the astronauts would not see the bulge.
2007-03-17 20:07:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Astronauts revealed nothing. The shape size etc of the earth had long been established before we sent an eyewitness in to the void. No pear-shapes.
2007-03-18 03:35:31 · answer #2 · answered by The Stainless Steel Rat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the earth is not round nor a pear shaped planet but it is an oblate spheriod
2007-03-18 03:05:49 · answer #3 · answered by Marc A. Bacus 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
2007-03-18 03:03:18 · answer #4 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
2007-03-18 03:03:04 · answer #5 · answered by asgspifs 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋