The true shape of the Earth is approximately an oblate spheroid, meaning it is mostly spherical in shape but slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator. This deviation from a perfect sphere is due to the Earth’s rotation, which causes a flattening at the poles and a bulging at the equator.
The Earth’s equatorial diameter is larger than its polar diameter, creating the oblate spheroid shape. This flattening is a result of the centrifugal force generated by the Earth’s rotation. The equatorial bulge is not easily noticeable at the human scale, but precise measurements and satellite observations confirm the Earth’s oblate spheroid geometry.
It’s important to note that while the Earth is best described as an oblate spheroid, it is not a perfect one. Irregularities in the Earth’s shape, such as mountains, valleys, and variations in the density of Earth’s interior, contribute to local deviations from the idealized oblate spheroid. Despite these irregularities, the overall shape of the Earth is well approximated by the oblate spheroid model.