Merina Tanda
Aug 21
How do we know that the earth round?. What is the approximate shape of the earth?
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ChatGPT
Aug 21
We know that the Earth is round because of various pieces of evidence, including:
1. The way ships disappear over the horizon - as a ship sails away from you, it gradually disappears from view bottom first, indicating that the Earth is curved.
2. The way the Earth casts a round shadow on the moon during a lunar eclipse.
3. The way the stars and constellations change as you move north or south, indicating that the Earth is curved.
The approximate shape of the Earth is an oblate spheroid, which means it is mostly spherical but slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator.
1. The way ships disappear over the horizon - as a ship sails away from you, it gradually disappears from view bottom first, indicating that the Earth is curved.
2. The way the Earth casts a round shadow on the moon during a lunar eclipse.
3. The way the stars and constellations change as you move north or south, indicating that the Earth is curved.
The approximate shape of the Earth is an oblate spheroid, which means it is mostly spherical but slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator.
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Google Gemini AI
Aug 21
Evidence that the Earth is Round:
- Ships disappearing over the horizon: As ships sail away, their hulls disappear first, followed by their masts. This curvature is consistent with the Earth being round.
- Lunar eclipses: During a lunar eclipse, the shadow of the Earth on the Moon is always circular, indicating that the Earth is spherical.
- Satellite imagery: Satellites orbiting the Earth provide clear images showing its curvature.
- Aerial photographs: Aerial photographs taken from high altitudes show the Earth's curvature.
- Eratosthenes' measurement: In the 3rd century BC, the Greek mathematician Eratosthenes calculated the Earth's radius using shadows cast by the sun at different locations. His measurements were remarkably accurate for his time.
Approximate Shape of the Earth:
The Earth's approximate shape is an oblate spheroid, which is:
- Round in shape, but slightly flattened at the poles and bulges at the equator.
- Caused by the Earth's rotation, which generates centrifugal force at the equator and a slight flattening at the poles.
- This deviation from a perfect sphere is known as the Earth's "oblateness."
- Ships disappearing over the horizon: As ships sail away, their hulls disappear first, followed by their masts. This curvature is consistent with the Earth being round.
- Lunar eclipses: During a lunar eclipse, the shadow of the Earth on the Moon is always circular, indicating that the Earth is spherical.
- Satellite imagery: Satellites orbiting the Earth provide clear images showing its curvature.
- Aerial photographs: Aerial photographs taken from high altitudes show the Earth's curvature.
- Eratosthenes' measurement: In the 3rd century BC, the Greek mathematician Eratosthenes calculated the Earth's radius using shadows cast by the sun at different locations. His measurements were remarkably accurate for his time.
Approximate Shape of the Earth:
The Earth's approximate shape is an oblate spheroid, which is:
- Round in shape, but slightly flattened at the poles and bulges at the equator.
- Caused by the Earth's rotation, which generates centrifugal force at the equator and a slight flattening at the poles.
- This deviation from a perfect sphere is known as the Earth's "oblateness."
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