My science teacher asked me to find out for extra credit.
2007-09-23 14:56:33 · 11 answers · asked by <3 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The only thing that can cause something as large as the Earth to change shape is a large gravitational field.
The only one close by is the Moon, and it does have a small effect on the shape of the Earth.
The moon creates tides, and these are most noticeable to us in the ocean. But there are tides in the land as well - during a new moon or full moon the land in line with the moon and sun can rise up to a meter as the tide moves across the land.
But these are small changes, not noticeable to us and with no long-term changes over time.
They don't change the shape of the Earth (which is an oblate spheroid) permanently.
2007-09-23 15:04:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It has to do with the Earth's axis and the direction it is pointing. There is a period of time, I forget how many years, when the Earth's axis, the imaginary line down through the center of the earth, changed it's direction relative to the Sun.
When this happens, when it goes through this perdiodic change, the earth changes shape slightly since the gravity of the Sun is pulling from a different direction on the earth.
2007-09-23 15:02:08 · answer #2 · answered by mugurelriscuta 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The gravitational pull of the moon causes tides on land as well as in the oceans. So that's a minor change in the shape of the Earth.
2007-09-23 14:59:45 · answer #3 · answered by ecolink 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a wormhole. once the truth is realized by an entity that is here to serve to the one that owns us, the cosmos will change. and so this should wake up mankind. this entity is known in the
other world somewhere close to God. it is called Quasar, the enlightment of our galaxy. Soon you will be blown away by this info I tell you now. you see, this planet for all i know will be in a shape of a doughnut with a hole in the middle. If we dont get this entity at the top of the pyramid to reflect its light back to the stars, then we will be doomed. this planet will be where a blackhole begins. everything is switching. a hole will begin in the bermuda triangle and comes out somewhere in japan. Youll see. this entity is pushing all these stars back. its trying hard. will we be saved? hah. if not, then only one willl survive. the one whos made to serve. god will forgive because no one believes. and everyone disappears in the oblivion. so what i ssay here really is just my imagination. hahaha, you can make a movie out of this story and itll hit the blockbuster i bet!
2007-09-23 19:06:08 · answer #4 · answered by quasar 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I could write a 5 page paper on this. Ok liquid mantel under continental shelves with centrifigal force causeing a bulge around the equator as well as the gravitational effefts of both the sun's and the moon's gravity.
2007-09-23 15:05:59 · answer #5 · answered by lint 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i didn't know the earth changes shape..... ill give you a star and come back to find out!!
2007-09-23 15:01:49 · answer #6 · answered by Chaya Ahuvah 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Global warming caused by the americans.
2007-09-23 15:00:50 · answer #7 · answered by honda man 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gravitational pull of the moon as it exceeds away from us a centimeter a year.
2007-09-23 15:01:28 · answer #8 · answered by beatlemaniac 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
jenny graig
2007-09-23 14:59:54 · answer #9 · answered by robbie_johansen 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
erosion
2007-09-24 02:37:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋