what is the name of who discovered the shape of the earth
2007-12-10 20:44:51 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Plato listed the reasons for thinking the Earth was a sphere in about 400BC. He didn't discover it though - he was just collating what was common knowledge.
The surveying expedition that established the "real" shape of the Earth was led by Mechain and DeLambre.
2007-12-10 21:11:34 · answer #1 · answered by Iridflare 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
His name was Eratosphenes and 230 BC, he calculated the earth diameter from the sun's elevation at Alexandria and another place I forgot the name.
But, for the fun of it, here is a very little known fact: The first man who could honestly confirm that the earth was round by being the first circumnavigator was ... an inhabitant of the Moluccus islands!
Indeed, before sailing west around the world, Magellan went around Africa to the Moluccus, a.k.a. the Spice Islands, at the time. He came back to Spain with a slave/servant who was with him on his westward journey. Since Magellan died on the Philippines before reaching Moluccus, it was his servant who was the first one to have done a complete circumnavigation.
But history forgot him and the title was officially given to the captain of the only vessel that made it back to Spain. He was a Basque Spaniard and on his tomb, there is an inscription that says he was the first circumnavigator but ... not quite true! :-)
2007-12-11 05:13:53 · answer #2 · answered by Michel Verheughe 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Greeks worked out thousands of years ago that the earth was round.
The idea that everyone thought it was flat a few hundred years ago is a myth and most educated people realised it was round (a bot like those now who deny evolution).
So, in answer to your question, there are no records as it is believed it was worked out it was round 3 or 4 thousand years ago and no records were kept at that time that we know of.
2007-12-11 04:49:07 · answer #3 · answered by Marky 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well the Egytians knew the earth was round and the Greeks even measured the Earth. I mean they knew this 6000 years ago but had no name. Everyone knew because of the shadows.
2007-12-11 04:56:24 · answer #4 · answered by Bobby K 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I must disagree with the Greek answer. Egyptians was first when a sheep rancher approached his well sites at the same time in different locations. He noticed that the shadows where at different angles,one was closer to equator . He used the difference in the angles and realized the earth was round.
2007-12-11 08:48:45 · answer #5 · answered by leola H 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The flat earth society,many years ago.
2007-12-11 04:58:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That was done by an American in 500 A.D. whose name was Rudolph Frazier.
2007-12-11 06:06:48 · answer #7 · answered by zahbudar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
galileo galileii
2007-12-11 04:49:11 · answer #8 · answered by nick007 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
errm sorry dont know
2007-12-11 05:21:57 · answer #9 · answered by Jade 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋