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Learn how geodesy represents the Earth as an oblate spheroid, an ellipsoid of revolution with a bulge at the equator and a flattening at the poles. Compare different models and conventions for the figure of the Earth, such as spherical, ellipsoidal, and geoid.
Learn about Earth, the only planet with life and liquid surface water, and its physical characteristics, atmosphere, climate, and history. Find out how Earth orbits the Sun, rotates, and interacts with other planets and space objects.
An Earth ellipsoid is a mathematical figure approximating the Earth's form, used as a reference frame for geodesy, astronomy, and the geosciences. The shape of an ellipsoid is determined by the equatorial radius (semi-major axis) and the flattening, which is the difference between the equatorial and polar radii.
The article explains how the spherical shape of Earth was known and measured by ancient and medieval cultures, and how it was confirmed by circumnavigation and geodesy. It also describes the formation, deviation, and effects of Earth's shape, and its relation to the ellipsoid.
Earth science or geoscience is the study of the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of Earth and its atmosphere. It covers topics such as geology, geochemistry, geophysics, paleontology, mineralogy, petrology, plate tectonics, volcanoes, earthquakes, climate, and magnetism.
Learn about the layers of Earth, from the crust and lithosphere to the core and mantle, and their chemical and mechanical properties. Find out how scientists use various methods to study the internal structure of Earth, such as seismology, gravimetry, and geochemistry.
Geophysics is a natural science that studies the physical processes and properties of the Earth and its environment, and uses quantitative methods for their analysis. It covers topics such as gravity, heat flow, vibrations, electricity, magnetism, and more, and has various applications in exploration, environmental protection, and planetary science.
A globe is a spherical model of Earth or other celestial body, that does not distort the surface except to scale it down. Learn about the different types of globes, their history, and how they are used for education, navigation and exploration.