01-05-2025
Round vs. Flat: Defying Misconceptions on the Earth's Shape
By: Dr. Mohamed Farag
Recently, a controversial question has gone viral across social media platforms: Is the Earth round or flat?
Despite the overwhelming evidence and numerous devices proving the Earth is a sphere, including space missions and satellites, some groups claim that the Earth is flat and encircled by an ice wall. Those groups call themselves 'The Flat Earth Society.' Round or Flat?
More than 2,200 years ago, Eratosthenes, a Greek astronomer, geographer, mathematician, and poet, proved the Earth's spherical nature. So did Al-Biruni, a Muslim astronomer, mathematician, historian, and geographer.
Using the tools available at the time, both scholars calculated the circumference of the Earth with remarkable precision. A depiction of flat Earth
Another compelling piece of evidence lies in the shape of other celestial bodies. If you looked through a telescope on a clear night, you would see Jupiter and Saturn appearing as spheres. The Earth is no different. The Age of Earth
Scientifically speaking, the age of Earth is estimated to be about 4.5 billion years. Scientists calculated it through geological studies and radiometric dating (the analysis of radioactive elements found in old rocks and minerals).
Atoms in radioactive elements decay into lighter elements with lower atomic mass. Each radioactive element needs a certain amount of time for half of its atoms to decay. This is called 'half-life.'
By measuring the ratio of the decay products to the ratio of the original element, we can determine how long that sample has been in this location. This method is used to calculate the age of the remains of living organisms and other substances. How the Earth Formed
Initially, the universe was void, then it pulsed with matter and energy in what is known as the 'Big Bang.' Matter dispersed across the cosmos, eventually forming hydrogen atoms after a certain period.
Following this, hydrogen accumulated in nebulae. Hydrogen nuclei began to fuse in stars, creating radiant stars pulsing with energy.
After the consumption of hydrogen in some of those stars, they evolved into red giants or supergiants, depending on their mass. Some of those stars explode, scattering atoms heavier than hydrogen into space. Atoms heavier than iron are formed in neutron stars. Earth
Dust particles accumulate in a specific location, forming either a planet or a moon that orbits a planet. Given that gravity operates in all directions, these planets or celestial bodies take a spherical shape.
These theories form the basis for the study of the observable universe. They are substantiated by mathematical models and observations. Since the Earth is no different from these planets and stars, it is consequently spherical. Real-world Evidence
When you lie down on a beach by the sea or ocean, you will notice ships disappear hull down over the horizon, with the upper parts vanishing last. This is because the Earth's curvature blocks the line of sight to the lower part of the ship.
Furthermore, there are plenty of phenomena that confirm that the Earth is a sphere, such as lunar and solar eclipses during which we can simply observe the Earth's shadow on the Moon, as well as the Moon blocking sunlight.
Moreover, the change of star positions with the change of geographical location provides another compelling piece of evidence. Similarly, the star constellations visible in the Northern Hemisphere are different from those seen in the Southern Hemisphere.
About the author:
Dr. Mohamed Farag is an associate professor of physics at Al-Azhar University.
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