How do we know the Earth is round?
Mystery Science・1 minute read
The Earth's round shape is supported by evidence from teachers, scientists, and astronauts, including pictures from space, observed ship disappearing over the horizon, and time differences in distant video calls. Ancient civilizations had diverse beliefs about the Earth's shape, but Pythagoras was among the first to propose its roundness, influenced by the Moon's shape and astronomer's discoveries of round planets.
Insights
- Pythagoras was an early advocate for the Earth being round, drawing inspiration from the Moon's shape and paving the way for astronomers to confirm the planet's roundness through observations of other celestial bodies.
- The Earth's round shape is supported by various pieces of evidence, such as ships disappearing over the horizon due to curvature, time discrepancies in video calls with distant individuals, and the occurrence of lunar eclipses creating a round shadow on Earth, all contributing to the consensus among teachers, scientists, and astronauts.
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Recent questions
Is the Earth flat?
No
Who first proposed the Earth's roundness?
Pythagoras
How do astronomers deduce the Earth's shape?
Lunar eclipses
What evidence supports the Earth's roundness?
Ships disappearing over horizon
What shapes did ancient civilizations believe the Earth to be?
Flat or cube
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Summary
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Earth's Roundness Confirmed by Various Sources
- Teachers, scientists, and astronauts have all confirmed that the Earth is round, supported by pictures taken from space.
- Ancient civilizations had varying beliefs about the Earth's shape, with some thinking it was flat like a pancake or shaped like a cube.
- Pythagoras was one of the first to propose the Earth's roundness, inspired by the Moon's shape, later reinforced by astronomers discovering round planets.
- Astronomers deduced the Earth's round shape from observing its round shadow during lunar eclipses, a phenomenon that occurs every few years.
- Additional evidence of the Earth's roundness includes ships disappearing bottom-first over the horizon due to the Earth's curvature, and the time differences observed during video calls with people in distant locations.
