Ask Tappity: Science Questions for Kids > Why Is the Earth Round?
Why Is the Earth Round?
Why is the Earth round? Why isn’t it like, a cube, or a pyramid, or some weird potato shape? Watch this video to find out, or read our explanation below!
All Planets Are Round
It’s not just the Earth - all planets are round! Every single one, without exception. In fact, every single planetary body - star, planet, moon, you name it - of a sufficiently large size is round. They’re not round by chance - they have to be that way, and the reason is gravity.
The Earth Is Round Because of Gravity
Planets are forced into spherical shapes by their own constant, powerful gravitational pull. Each part of the planet is constantly being pulled inward towards the center. Over time, this smooths out any irregularities - anything that sticks out gets pulled down and redistributed. A sphere is the only stable shape under this kind of constant pressure. It’s a little like how you make a snowball - constant pressure from all sides, eventually making a sphere.
Planet Facts for Kids
Questions about Planets? Look no further!
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It’s round, but it's not a perfect sphere. The rotation of the Earth flattens it out a big, widening it around the equator, resulting in what can be accurately called an irregularly shaped ellipsoid.
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You can only feel changes in motion, not motion itself. You can feel an airplane accelerate or slow down, but when it's in flight, you don’t feel anything. The rotation of the Earth is the same.
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It's not known for sure who discovered the Earth was round, but it definitely wasn’t Christopher Columbus. The Greeks knew the Earth was round by at least 500 B.C. - over 2,000 years ago!
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Scientists estimate that the Earth is about 4.5 billion years old.
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Scientists estimate that the Earth will be able to support life for at least another 1.5 billion years. At some point after that, the Sun will vaporize all the liquid water, making life as we know it impossible.
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Yes, but there’s some evidence that you might actually age a bit mores slowly in space than you do on Earth.
More Answers to Space Questions from Kids
Where did the Moon come from? How big is the universe? The Tappity Astronomy Library has interactive lessons with answers to those questions and more!
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