2007-11-01 03:28:12 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
No. The earth is what is called an "oblate sphere." That means it's wider around one side than the others.
In our case, the earth is a few miles wider east-to-west, at the equator, than it is north-to-south at the poles. This is because the rotation of the earth creates a centripetal force that makes the equator bulge out a little - just like it's hard to hang onto a spinning merry-go-round.
2007-11-01 03:32:27 · answer #1 · answered by Brian L 7 · 10⤊ 0⤋
No. The earth is what is called an "oblate sphere." That means it's wider around one side than the others.
In our case, the earth is a few miles wider east-to-west, at the equator, than it is north-to-south at the poles. This is because the rotation of the earth creates a centripetal force that makes the equator bulge out a little - just like it's hard to hang onto a spinning merry-go-round.
2007-11-01 10:40:15 · answer #2 · answered by alcoholic 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. The earth is what is called an "oblate sphere." That means it's wider around one side than the others.
In our case, the earth is a few miles wider east-to-west, at the equator, than it is north-to-south at the poles. This is because the rotation of the earth creates a centripetal force that makes the equator bulge out a little - just like it's hard to hang onto a spinning merry-go-round. UNDERSTOOD?
2007-11-01 10:34:48 · answer #3 · answered by sathyanarayanan k 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No. The Earth is roughly as perfect a sphere as a really good orange fruit.
2007-11-01 10:38:10 · answer #4 · answered by cosmo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not totally perfect, but pretty darn close.
There are mountains and valleys, so at least it is a bumpy sphere.
Because of centrifugal force from its rotation, it is slightly flatter at the poles and wider at the equator. It is about 30 miles wider at the equator. But 30 miles out of 8,000 isn't much wider. 30/8,000 is less departure from a perfect sphere than a billiard ball.
2007-11-01 11:42:49 · answer #5 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes....it is bulged at the center and flattened at the two poles. a good word would be geoid. 'Geoid' means shape of the earth. No geometrical figure can be drawn for the shape of our Earth. Isn't that amazing?
sorry, its not yes...its no....i meant to say yes, Earth is not a perfect sphere
2007-11-01 11:32:44 · answer #6 · answered by SIMONE 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope; due to it's rotation, it's flattened at the poles about 18 miles and expanded at the equator by about 16 miles.
2007-11-01 11:09:08 · answer #7 · answered by quantumclaustrophobe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The earth is not a perfect square. It is slightly flat at the North and south poles.
2007-11-01 10:33:33 · answer #8 · answered by BooknPen 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No, the Earth is nearer in shape to a rugby ball though not quite as oval.
2007-11-03 10:54:11 · answer #9 · answered by paul j 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just a minor clarification. The term is "oblate spheroid" - not "oblate sphere". Esoteric but true.
2007-11-01 10:44:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋