Figure of Earth
The earth is not flat like a pancake, it is round like a ball. But, it is not a perfectly round ball. It is a little bit bigger at the equator (the middle of the earth) and a little bit flatter at the poles (the top and the bottom of the earth).
This happens because the earth is spinning around its axis, just like when you spin a ball around your finger. But, the earth is spinning very fast, about 1,000 miles per hour! This spinning motion causes the surface of the earth to bulge out a little at the equator and flatten out a little at the poles.
Scientists call this shape of the earth the "figure of earth." They study it to understand how the earth behaves and to create accurate maps of the planet. It also affects gravity on the earth, making it stronger at the poles and weaker at the equator. It's pretty cool, isn't it?
This happens because the earth is spinning around its axis, just like when you spin a ball around your finger. But, the earth is spinning very fast, about 1,000 miles per hour! This spinning motion causes the surface of the earth to bulge out a little at the equator and flatten out a little at the poles.
Scientists call this shape of the earth the "figure of earth." They study it to understand how the earth behaves and to create accurate maps of the planet. It also affects gravity on the earth, making it stronger at the poles and weaker at the equator. It's pretty cool, isn't it?
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