2007-08-29 03:31:47 · 13 answers · asked by monitoringcctv 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
The Earth was formed while spinning which causes centrifugal force but at the same time had gravity due to it's great mass. These two forces together formed a sphere which is not exactly round because the centrifugal force is strong enough to make the Earth bulge at the equator where it's the strongest.
2007-08-29 03:44:00 · answer #1 · answered by kcpaull 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, technically it's more of an oblate spheroid. But whatevs.
Earth is round because of gravity. Gravity pulls equally on all points at Earth's surface, so the only shape it can take is a sphere. It isn't, as stated by several others in this thread, round because of surface cohesion, like a water droplet.
The slight bulge around the equator and slight flattening at the poles is due to centrifugal forces created by Earth's rotation.
2007-08-29 11:08:02 · answer #2 · answered by SomeGuy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Gravity. Its the ONLY form an astronomical body can take if it's massive enough. There cannot be any square planets no matter what you see in comic books. It would be helpful if those of you who have no idea of the answer would simply shut up. If you dont know the answer go find a question you can answer. You are not helping anyone by your ignorance, religious fanaticism or sheer stupidity.
2007-08-29 14:26:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simply, God made it that way. Try to imagine any other shape than round that would work. Ships sure would have a hard time making that 90 degree bend. The world is round because no other shape would work.
2007-08-29 10:40:16 · answer #4 · answered by loufedalis 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
1 - the earth is elliptical
2 - this is caused by the gravity generated by the mass of the objects which make up the earth which pulls everything towards the center of the mass, thus creating a spherical object such as the earth.
2007-08-29 10:44:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Any fluid free of distorting forces will form a spherical shape. This is what the earth did when it was in the molten state.
2007-08-29 11:01:30 · answer #6 · answered by fred f 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its mass is so large that it has enough gravity to form the shape. the earth, however, is slighting flat at the poles and slighting buldged and the equator. this is due to centrifugal effects which is related to the earths rotation.
2007-08-29 10:42:54 · answer #7 · answered by Dave 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Because it just is. Mother Earth liked the shape.
2007-08-29 10:43:26 · answer #8 · answered by Future FBI 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
It isn't.
The earth isn't a perfect sphere. It has an equatorial bulge. But basically, it has this shape because of gravity.
2007-08-29 10:45:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
because it's not a square nor a triagle.
2007-08-29 11:42:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋