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The Earth rotates on its axis. This causes it to bulge very slightly around its equator, which makes it wider there. This also causes the poles to flatten slightly.

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From which set of polar and equatorial diameters can the actual shape of the Earth be inferred?

By comparing Earth's polar (12,714 km) and equatorial (12,756 km) diameters, we can infer that Earth is an oblate spheroid. The slight bulge at the equator is due to the centrifugal force caused by its rotation, resulting in a slightly flattened shape at the poles and a bulging equator.


Why is distance around the equator measured at 24783mi when the distance around the earth is measured at 24901 mi?

The Earth is not a perfect sphere, but an oblate spheroid, which means it is slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator. This difference in shape causes the equatorial circumference to be longer than the polar circumference. The measurements you provided reflect this difference in distance due to Earth's shape.


What is Equatorial Radius?

Half the distance in a straight line from one side of a planet to the other through the centre of the planet with the distance measured from the equaor on both sides. In other words, the radius of the sphere of the planet measured, not at the pole, but at the equator. It is important to distinguish between polar radius and equatorial radius because no planet is an exact sphere, but 'bulges out' at the equator because of 'centrifugal force' as the planet rotates. This is most marked in the gas giants of the solar system especially Jupiter and Saturn, which look distinctly flattened at the poles when viewed through a telescope, so that the polar radii are very much smaller that the equatorial radii.


Who suggest The spherical shape of the earth?

The Earth is a Oblate Spheroid which means having an equatorial diamater greater than the Polar diameter. The word Oblate is from the Latin, Oblatus. The description was offered by the Greek Astromomer Pythagoras, 6th Centurey BC


Why might using speed of light to determine the length of the meter be more reliable than using a measured distance around earth?

The speed of light in vacuum is a universal constant. The distance around the earth depends on the line of measurement. Because of its rotation, the earth is not a perfect sphere: its equatorial radius is 0.3% greater than its polar radius. Consequently the measurement is affected by the exact line along which the radius is measured. Furthermore, there are two kinds of variations in the equatorial radius. One is a long-term variation caused by the distribution of mass on the surface: possibly the ocean mass. There is also the short term variation caused by the gravitational pull of the moon.

Related Questions

How does earths polar diameter compare with its equatorial diameter?

The equatorial diameter is greater than the polar diameter. The distance is about 30 miles. The equatorial diameter is about 7927 miles. The polar diameter is about 7900 miles.


Is the earth moon and sun all spheres?

The Sun, Earth and the Moon are all oblate spheroids. Meaning their equatorial diameter is greater than their polar diameter.


Which region of earth has th higher absolute humidity the equatorial region or the polar region?

equatorial region


What is Polar Circumference?

The polar circumference of the Earth is any great circle that includes both poles. It is shorter than the equatorial circumference because the Earth's spin makes it bulge at the equator, while it is flattened at the poles. The polar circumference at MSL would be 40,008 km, compared to the equatorial circumference of 40,075 km.The term "polar circumference" can also refer to the Arctic and Antarctic circles, which are roughly 66.56 degrees N and S latitude.


What is the Difference between polar and equatorial diameter of earth?

The equatorial diameter of the Earth is about 12,742 km, while the polar diameter is about 12,714 km. This means that the Earth is slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator, resulting in a difference of approximately 28 km between the two measurements.


From which set of polar and equatorial diameters can the actual shape of the Earth be inferred?

By comparing Earth's polar (12,714 km) and equatorial (12,756 km) diameters, we can infer that Earth is an oblate spheroid. The slight bulge at the equator is due to the centrifugal force caused by its rotation, resulting in a slightly flattened shape at the poles and a bulging equator.


Why is distance around the equator measured at 24783mi when the distance around the earth is measured at 24901 mi?

The Earth is not a perfect sphere, but an oblate spheroid, which means it is slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator. This difference in shape causes the equatorial circumference to be longer than the polar circumference. The measurements you provided reflect this difference in distance due to Earth's shape.


Is the Earth's equatorial circumference the same as the polar circumference?

No. The polar circumference of the Earth is smaller than the equatorial circumference by about 41 miles or about 67 km. The Earth is a slightly "oblate spheroid" meaning it is slightly flattened (0.336%) at the poles, and bulging at the equator, due to its spin. The equatorial circumference of the Earth is about 40,075 kilometers (24,901 miles). The polar circumference of the Earth is about 40,008 kilometers (24,860 miles). See related questions and links for additional details.


How do you calculate diameter of earth?

The diameter of the Earth is approximately 12,742 kilometers (7,918 miles). This measurement can be calculated by taking the average of the Earth's polar and equatorial diameters. The equatorial diameter is about 12,756 kilometers (7,926 miles) and the polar diameter is about 12,714 kilometers (7,900 miles).


What is Equatorial Radius?

Half the distance in a straight line from one side of a planet to the other through the centre of the planet with the distance measured from the equaor on both sides. In other words, the radius of the sphere of the planet measured, not at the pole, but at the equator. It is important to distinguish between polar radius and equatorial radius because no planet is an exact sphere, but 'bulges out' at the equator because of 'centrifugal force' as the planet rotates. This is most marked in the gas giants of the solar system especially Jupiter and Saturn, which look distinctly flattened at the poles when viewed through a telescope, so that the polar radii are very much smaller that the equatorial radii.


Who suggested spherical shape of the Earth?

The Earth is a Oblate Spheroid which means having an equatorial diamater greater than the Polar diameter. The word Oblate is from the Latin, Oblatus. The description was offered by the Greek Astromomer Pythagoras, 6th Centurey BC


Who suggest The spherical shape of the earth?

The Earth is a Oblate Spheroid which means having an equatorial diamater greater than the Polar diameter. The word Oblate is from the Latin, Oblatus. The description was offered by the Greek Astromomer Pythagoras, 6th Centurey BC