The Earth is a spherical planet

[David Jayne]

If it isn't exactly spherical then it's spheroidal.

spheroidal
or spheroidic
[sfi-roid-l]

• Word Origin

adjective
1.
pertaining to a Link Removed or Link Removed.
2.
shaped like a Link Removed; approximately spherical.

I'll go with what CALTECH says

Why are all of the planets round? | Cool Cosmos

 

[dincz]

I'll go with what CALTECH says

Why are all of the planets round? | Cool Cosmos

Most people do in everyday language, but if you want to be precise, ask a linguist rather than a phyicist.

 

[Nobody]

I kinda feel sorry for the guy who held the stationary end of the tape measure when they first measured the planet. That had to be a pretty boring job just standing there waiting and waiting and waiting..... Of course the other guy had no easy task either. That tape measure would have to be massive to measure the entire planet. I hope they got paid well.

 

[El Güero]

I kinda feel sorry for the guy who held the stationary end of the tape measure when they first measured the planet. That had to be a pretty boring job just standing there waiting and waiting and waiting.....

I would nail the "dumb end" of the tape to a tree and take a nap. Those smart guys unwinding the tape aren't getting back anytime soon.

 

[Qlanq]

I take it the Earth is still round though?

 

[Nobody]

I take it the Earth is still round though?

Roundoidal roundiness I believe is the consensus.

 

[Qlanq]

^ Good, I sleep safe in my bed tonight then.
My bed is flat. Maybe not so flat when I'm in it though.(On it?)

 

[placedesjardins]

LOL

 

[elgecko]

I'll go with what CALTECH says

Why are all of the planets round? | Cool Cosmos

That's Caltech's dumbed down FAQ page aimed at kids. It also answers "highly technical" questions like "what is an astronomer?" and "can you really walk on an asteroid like in some movies?" It's an ill suited place to determine the difference between spherical and spheroidal.

 

[stevensunn]

tapered round-wound...

 

[One Drop]

I kinda feel sorry for the guy who held the stationary end of the tape measure when they first measured the planet. That had to be a pretty boring job just standing there waiting and waiting and waiting..... Of course the other guy had no easy task either. That tape measure would have to be massive to measure the entire planet. I hope they got paid well.

Don't laugh, early mapmakers and surveyors used chains to measure out distances!

Look up Mason and Dixon for some fascinating American history.

 

[elgecko]

There, I said it.
Now, everybody lump on, and tell me how wrong I am!

You should've left the thread title (the very premise of this thread) stay to show everybody how right you were. By changing the title, it almost looks as if you've recognized some sort of flaw in your initial statement.

 

[guy n. cognito]

You should've left the thread title (the very premise of this thread) stay to show everybody how right you were. By changing the title, it almost looks as if you've recognized some sort of flaw in your initial statement.

I was just thinking the same thing. Besides, now it makes no sense. It was really the wrong thing to do here.

 

[One Drop]

And it made my joke seem like a nasty comment.

Boo on changing thread titles all the time!

 

[Killed_by_Death]

It was really the wrong thing to do here.

You can count on me to do the wrong thing, and I can count on you to point it out, EVERY time.

 

[Stewie26]

 

[fjadams]

There, I said it.
Now, everybody lump on, and tell me how wrong I am!

I know some people who went to public school in Kansas. The earth is flat and you can fall off the sides if you're not careful.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Nowadays international flights sometimes go over the top of the planet instead of going across it. I guess it saves on the distance travelled.

 

[fjadams]

View attachment 764344


Wait....you're right!!

Must be the lighting, it's actually sparkly purple.

 

[96tbird]

No wonder when I was in Brazil and said to the hotelier that I was going right around the corner for cigs he begged me in horror not to go: "Do not go right senior, go left gringo! LEFT!