What is the shape of the Earth?

The shape of the Earth is an oblate spheroid. This means that it is slightly flattened at the poles and bulges at the equator. The Earth's shape was first conclusively determined by ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician, Eratosthenes, around 240 BC. He measured the angles of shadows at different locations during the same time, and using this information, he calculated the Earth's circumference. Since then, numerous expeditions, satellite measurements, and advanced technology have further confirmed the Earth's oblate spheroid shape.

The shape of the Earth is roughly spherical, resembling a slightly flattened sphere at the poles and bulging at the equator. This shape is known as an oblate spheroid. However, it is not a perfect sphere due to the Earth's rotation and gravitational forces, which cause it to be slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator.