2007-09-06 02:15:44 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Earth's surface only appears flat to us because it's so huge and we're usually standing on that surface. Actually, if you look out at the ocean from a beach you can only see about 7 miles or so because of Earth's curvature.
2007-09-06 02:21:29 · answer #1 · answered by Chug-a-Lug 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
They are not, it's an illusion. If this were a smaller body, like an Asteroid, we'd easily see the curvature. But we are a large body so we don't see it.
An Ant on a beach ball think the ball is flat and it is walking straight, even though it comes back to the same point over and over.
You also have to realize that you are traveling at 2,200 miles per hour, but you don't feel it.
In a car, after you get into traffic do you feel motion are are you still.
In a bus, you can get up an walk while it's in motion.
This is called Relatvity, your view relative to how you preceive the world. First proposed by Galileo and expanded upon by Einstein.
2007-09-06 04:33:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The world appears flat because the curve is on such a large scale. Do me a favor, go find a marble and a beach ball. Both are spheres, both are round. But because the marble is smaller, and the beach ball larger, the curve on the marble is more extreme. Now imagine living on either of those. If you were a person tiny enough to live on the marble, you would probably be able to see that the ground beneath your feet curves. Put the same size person on the beach ball and their ground will appear much flatter because the curve is larger. It's all a matter of relativity.
2007-09-06 02:25:59 · answer #3 · answered by OhKatie! 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Because the Earth is huge and although it is round, we would need to either be a lot bigger or very high to be able to see the curvature.
You can tell it's round because there's the horizon (about 13 miles at sea level). If the Earth was flat, you'd be able to see for further but the curvature kicks in after about 13 miles (at sea level) and we're unable to see much further.
2007-09-06 03:14:20 · answer #4 · answered by elflaeda 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Surfaces are not flat at all. The presence of a horizon demonstrates this. It might seem flat over a short stretch of land, but keep in mind that we see only a minute section at a time from ground level. The closer that we are to the surface of any sphere, the flatter it seems, but technically it is never completely flat.
Hope that helps.
2007-09-06 02:25:12 · answer #5 · answered by Ѕємι~Мαđ ŠçїєŋŧιѕТ 6 · 4⤊ 2⤋
they are not flat but you are so small that they look flat, also the world is spining round so fast you are upside down most of the time your brain just turns what you see the right way round so you dont freak out
2007-09-07 02:53:14 · answer #6 · answered by Paul B 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In maths, at all points on the cirsumference of a cirle the gradient is zero, ie flat. So a circle is made up of lots of flat points.
2007-09-06 02:26:26 · answer #7 · answered by juology 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
because if the world was flat you could climb on top of a building and see a polar bear eat a seal.
they are not flat. nothing is completely flat.
2007-09-06 11:18:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
do u think world is just a small ball that u can clearly see it round? open your eyes, the world is so big
go to beach and see the ship (the big ship), u will realize that the world is round
2007-09-06 02:25:18 · answer #9 · answered by !z@@h. (はりざ ) 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
because flat surfaces of small dimensions do not cause any issue on huge round surfaces
2007-09-06 02:32:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋