Ask A Scientist©

Astronomy Archive


Earth: Round or Egg-shaped?

Author:      jason p brechin
I would like to know if the Earth is really not round, but elliptical as
some say.

Response #:  1 of 1 
Author:      richard a gerber
The Earth is not quite spherical, due to what is know as "rotational
flattening."  It is not egg-shaped, either, it is shaped more like a
pumpkin.  The radius of the Earth at the equator is 6,378 km; at the poles
it is 6,356 km.
Jupiter, which rotates once every 10 hours, is even much squashed than the
Earth.  Jupiter's equatorial radius is 70,850 km; it is polar radius is
66,550 km.



Back to Astronomy Ask A Scientist Index
NEWTON Homepage Ask A Question

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators.
Argonne National Laboratory, Division of Educational Programs, Harold Myron, Ph.D., Division Director.