Ellipsoid

An ellipsoid is sort of like a ball, but it is stretched out in some places and squished in others. Think of a balloon that you squeeze with your hands to make it skinny in the middle and bulgy on the ends. An ellipsoid is a shape that looks like that, but it can also be stretched out in different directions.

The earth is actually an ellipsoid! It is not a perfect sphere because it bulges out at the equator and is flattened at the poles. This is because the earth is spinning around its axis, and the spinning makes the bulging happen.

Ellipsoids can come in different sizes too. Some can be as small as a tiny bead, while others can be as big as a planet! Scientists use ellipsoids to study the shape and movement of things in space. They also use them to make maps and measure distances on the earth.

So in simpler terms, an ellipsoid is a shape that looks like a squished and stretched-out ball, just like a balloon that you squeeze with your hands.