Fact-Check: "The Earth is Flat"
What We Know
The claim that "the Earth is flat" is a long-debunked notion that contradicts centuries of scientific evidence. According to a 2019 article from UNLV, the Earth is a sphere due to the force of gravity, which pulls matter into a spherical shape. This is supported by observations from satellites and telescopes, which show the curvature of the Earth and the spherical shapes of other celestial bodies in our solar system.
Historically, the ancient Greeks provided some of the earliest evidence for a spherical Earth. They noted that during lunar eclipses, the Earth casts a round shadow on the Moon, a phenomenon that can only occur if the Earth is spherical. Additionally, the changing visibility of stars as one moves north or south supports this claim; for instance, Polaris is visible in the Northern Hemisphere but not in the Southern Hemisphere, indicating a curved surface (NOAA).
Modern technology has further solidified our understanding of the Earth's shape. High-altitude flights and space missions have provided photographic evidence of the Earth's curvature. For example, a photograph taken from an airplane in 1931 showed the Andes Mountains below the expected horizon if the Earth were flat (NASA).
Analysis
The claim that the Earth is flat has been thoroughly discredited by a wide range of scientific evidence. The sources consulted provide a comprehensive overview of the empirical data supporting the spherical nature of the Earth. For instance, the NOAA explains that while the Earth appears round from space, it is more accurately described as an oblate spheroid due to its equatorial bulge. This shape is a result of the centrifugal force from the Earth's rotation.
The reliability of the sources used is high. Articles from reputable organizations such as NASA and NOAA are based on extensive research and empirical data. The UNLV article also cites the expertise of Jason Steffen, a physicist with significant experience in astronomy and space science, adding credibility to the claims made about the Earth's shape (UNLV).
Furthermore, the historical context provided by the ancient Greeks illustrates that the understanding of the Earth's shape has evolved through observation and scientific reasoning, further undermining the flat Earth theory (NASA). The article from Wikipedia also highlights that the flat Earth concept is an archaic belief that has been scientifically disproven.
Conclusion
The assertion that "the Earth is flat" is False. This claim is contradicted by a wealth of scientific evidence, including gravitational principles, astronomical observations, and photographic proof from space. The overwhelming consensus among scientists, supported by historical observations and modern technology, confirms that the Earth is a sphere, not a flat plane.
