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Earth's circumference, a key geographical and navigational concept, measures approximately 40,075 km equatorially and 40,008 km meridionally. The shape, an oblate spheroid due to Earth's rotation, affects mapping and navigation. Historical figures like Eratosthenes and Al-Biruni made early estimations, influencing units of measurement and exploration. Accurate circumference data remains crucial for modern geodesy and technology.
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The distance around the Earth at the equator, approximately 40,075 kilometers
The distance from pole to pole on Earth, approximately 40,008 kilometers
Earth's rotation causes it to take on an oblate spheroid shape with a bulge at the equator and flattening at the poles, quantified by the "flattening" factor of roughly 0.3%
In the 3rd century BCE, Greek scholar Eratosthenes estimated Earth's circumference by observing the differences in solar angles at Alexandria and Syene, calculating it to be about 250,000 stadia
Earth's circumference has significantly influenced the development of units of length, such as the nautical mile and the meter
Successors to Eratosthenes, such as Posidonius and Al-Biruni, continued to refine the measurement of Earth's circumference using trigonometry and observations of stars and mountains
Christopher Columbus underestimated Earth's size, leading to his mistaken belief that he had reached Asia when he had actually discovered the New World
Precise measurements of Earth's circumference are vital for geodesy, navigation, and the standardization of measurement units, and have also enhanced cartography, navigation, and space exploration
00
The distance around Earth at the equator, known as the ______ circumference, is approximately ______ kilometers.
equatorial
40,075
01
The ______ circumference of Earth, the distance measured from ______ to ______, is roughly ______ kilometers.
meridional
pole
pole
40,008
02
The difference in Earth's polar and equatorial circumferences can be attributed to the ______ factor, which is about ______.
flattening
0.3%
