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The World Is Curved: An Exploration of the Earth's Shape

Arthur C. Clarke

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Published in The World Is Curved: Hidden Dangers To The Global Economy

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For centuries, people believed that the Earth was flat. However, as explorers began to travel the world, they began to realize that the Earth was not flat, but curved. This article will explore the evidence for the Earth's curvature, including observations of ships disappearing over the horizon, the shadow of the Earth on the moon during a lunar eclipse, and the different time zones around the world.

The World Is Curved: Hidden Dangers to the Global Economy

by David M. Smick

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	740 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	321 pages

## Ships Disappearing Over the Horizon

One of the most obvious pieces of evidence for the Earth's curvature is the way that ships disappear over the horizon. As a ship sails away from the shore, its hull will gradually disappear below the horizon, while its masts will remain visible for longer. This is because the Earth's curvature blocks our view of the ship's hull.

The distance at which a ship disappears over the horizon depends on the height of the observer and the height of the ship's masts. The higher the observer, the farther away the ship will be when it disappears over the horizon. This is because the observer's line of sight is longer, and it can therefore reach farther over the Earth's curvature.

The following table shows the distance at which a ship will disappear over the horizon for different heights of the observer and the ship's masts:

| Observer's Height (m) | Ship's Mast Height (m) | Distance to Horizon (km) | |---|---|---| | 1.5 | 10 | 4.7 | | 1.5 | 20 | 8.4 | | 1.5 | 30 | 11.3 | | 2.0 | 10 | 5.6 | | 2.0 | 20 | 10.0 | | 2.0 | 30 | 13.7 |

## The Shadow of the Earth on the Moon

Another piece of evidence for the Earth's curvature is the shadow of the Earth on the moon during a lunar eclipse. During a lunar eclipse, the Earth moves between the sun and the moon, blocking the sun's light from reaching the moon. This causes the moon to appear dark, and the Earth's shadow can be seen on the moon's surface.

The shape of the Earth's shadow on the moon is always curved, which indicates that the Earth is curved. If the Earth were flat, the shadow would be straight.

## Time Zones

The different time zones around the world also provide evidence for the Earth's curvature. As the Earth rotates on its axis, different parts of the Earth are exposed to the sun at different times. This means that it is midday in some parts of the world while it is nighttime in other parts of the world.

The time zones are arranged so that each time zone is one hour ahead of the previous time zone. This ensures that there is a smooth transition from one time zone to the next. If the Earth were flat, there would be no need for time zones, as all parts of the world would experience the same time.

The evidence presented in this article clearly demonstrates that the Earth is curved. This curvature has a significant impact on our lives, from the way that we navigate the world to the way that we experience time.

The World Is Curved: Hidden Dangers to the Global Economy

by David M. Smick

4.2 out of 5