• Question: What is the circumference of the earth?

    Asked by mylastlife to Chloe, Irene, Pierre, NULL, Uday on 16 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Uday Bangavadi

      Uday Bangavadi answered on 16 Nov 2015:

      Earth Radius (r)= 6,378 km
      So calculating Circumference= 2Pi(r)
      Which gives =~ 40,075 km

      So circumference of earth is 40,075 km

    • Photo: Irene Regan

      Irene Regan answered on 16 Nov 2015:

      This is a cool website to tell you how some kids measured the circumference
      http://m.mid-day.com/articles/these-school-kids-are-measuring-the-earths-circumference/16420185

      The Earth’ circumference is about 40,075 km, this is about 100 times smaller than the sun!!!

    • Photo: Chloe Huseyin

      Chloe Huseyin answered on 17 Nov 2015:

      A cool fact about the Earth is that the Earth’s circumference and diameter differ because its shape is classified as an oblate spheroid or ellipsoid, instead of a true sphere. This means that instead of being of equal circumference in all areas, the poles are squished, resulting in a bulge at the equator, and thus a larger circumference and diameter there.

      This is because the Earth rotates and spheres can be distorted by centrifugal force. This is the force that causes objects to move outward away from the centre of gravity. Therefore, as the Earth rotates, centrifugal force is greatest at the equator so it causes a slight outward bulge there, giving that region a larger circumference and diameter.

    • Photo: Pierre Casaubielh

      Pierre Casaubielh answered on 17 Nov 2015:

      As previously mentioned by others, a value has been founds, and as Earth is not fully spherical, an average value is given.

      This value was estimated a very long time ago, and they did not have any calculator or computer at that time or even Internet…
      Here is a question for you: how would you find the circumference using just what you have and can see? 😉

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