Flat Earth Theory Refuted
Flat Earth Theory is a largely discarded theory to describe shape the Earth but has some proponents. This theory proposes that the Earth has a shape of a flat plane or disk. The idea for a flat-earth began in ancient cultures, including the Greeks and the Near-East cultures. Some individuals and organizations in the modern times continue to believe in the flat earth, despite the modern scientific evidence of a spherical earth. The Flat Earth Society of Dover, UK was created in 1956, and the belief in a flat earth continues today in small numbers. Some evolutionists today unfairly claim that creationists believe in a flat earth, a claim that is largely false as most creationists accept the spherical earth. In more recent times, sea explorers traveled around the world across the oceans and evidence for a spherical earth became stronger.
Modern science today gives strong evidence for the spherical Earth, with observations as simple as the time zones around the world. The time zones show that the earth is spherical and in the process of rotating on its axis. When it is day on one side of the Earth, it is night on the other side of the earth and this setup reverses as the earth rotates on its axis during the day and night.
Ocean explorers have traveled around the Earth by sea vessel since the 1500's, including across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans and have not encountered any barriers or obstacles such as the edge of a flat earth, giving evidence of a spherical Earth.
Another evidence of a spherical Earth is seen when one can observe farther distances from higher elevation. This is possible because of the curvature of the Earth and would not be possible on a flat earth or disc-shaped earth.
In addition, the curvature of the Earth can actually be seen from a high-elevation plane flight by looking out the window. In addition, the fastest airplane route between two points on earth is called a "great circle route" and is an arc-shape, not a strait line, giving evidence for the curvature of the earth's surface. Photos of the ground taken from a plane do not line up correctly on a flat surface, but do on a spherical surface. In addition, aerial photographs must be corrected for the curvature of the earth.
Another proof of a spherical earth is the constant pull of gravity across the entire globe as a result of the center of mass located inside the center of the Earth. If the earth was a flat plane shape, the center of mass or gravity of the plane would be in the middle or center of the plane, and therefore objects located toward the edges of the plane would be pulled sideways toward the center of mass instead of downward as in a spherical Earth.
In the last few decades of space exploration, numerous photos of Earth have been taken by satellites, photos that clearly show the spherical curvature of the Earth. Surface features seen on photos taken of the ground from a lower orbit will not line up correctly unless applied to a spherical surface. Astronauts in a low-Earth orbit can see the curvature of the Earth while travelling around the Earth.
By observing other planets, one can also find evidence of the spherical earth. For example, a lunar eclipse will show the spherical shadow of the earth. The only shape that produces a round shadow regardless of which direction it is pointed is a sphere, and the ancient Greeks concluded that this must mean the Earth is spherical. A flat-disc earth could not produce such a shadow, unless facing the moon head-on, which is rare. A lunar eclipse is also only visible from half of the earth at a time, giving further evidence of a spherical earth. A flat-disc earth would produce an oval-shaped shadow, not a circular shadow that is seen during a lunar eclipse.
In addition, different stars can be seen from different points on Earth because of the Earth's spherical shape and this was noticed by ancient astronomers such as Aristotle. If the Earth was flat, the same stars would be visible at any location on earth.
Modern science today gives strong evidence for the spherical Earth, with observations as simple as the time zones around the world. The time zones show that the earth is spherical and in the process of rotating on its axis. When it is day on one side of the Earth, it is night on the other side of the earth and this setup reverses as the earth rotates on its axis during the day and night.
Ocean explorers have traveled around the Earth by sea vessel since the 1500's, including across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans and have not encountered any barriers or obstacles such as the edge of a flat earth, giving evidence of a spherical Earth.
Another evidence of a spherical Earth is seen when one can observe farther distances from higher elevation. This is possible because of the curvature of the Earth and would not be possible on a flat earth or disc-shaped earth.
In addition, the curvature of the Earth can actually be seen from a high-elevation plane flight by looking out the window. In addition, the fastest airplane route between two points on earth is called a "great circle route" and is an arc-shape, not a strait line, giving evidence for the curvature of the earth's surface. Photos of the ground taken from a plane do not line up correctly on a flat surface, but do on a spherical surface. In addition, aerial photographs must be corrected for the curvature of the earth.
Another proof of a spherical earth is the constant pull of gravity across the entire globe as a result of the center of mass located inside the center of the Earth. If the earth was a flat plane shape, the center of mass or gravity of the plane would be in the middle or center of the plane, and therefore objects located toward the edges of the plane would be pulled sideways toward the center of mass instead of downward as in a spherical Earth.
In the last few decades of space exploration, numerous photos of Earth have been taken by satellites, photos that clearly show the spherical curvature of the Earth. Surface features seen on photos taken of the ground from a lower orbit will not line up correctly unless applied to a spherical surface. Astronauts in a low-Earth orbit can see the curvature of the Earth while travelling around the Earth.
By observing other planets, one can also find evidence of the spherical earth. For example, a lunar eclipse will show the spherical shadow of the earth. The only shape that produces a round shadow regardless of which direction it is pointed is a sphere, and the ancient Greeks concluded that this must mean the Earth is spherical. A flat-disc earth could not produce such a shadow, unless facing the moon head-on, which is rare. A lunar eclipse is also only visible from half of the earth at a time, giving further evidence of a spherical earth. A flat-disc earth would produce an oval-shaped shadow, not a circular shadow that is seen during a lunar eclipse.
In addition, different stars can be seen from different points on Earth because of the Earth's spherical shape and this was noticed by ancient astronomers such as Aristotle. If the Earth was flat, the same stars would be visible at any location on earth.
