The Earth As An Ellipsoid
Comment: early literature uses the term oblate spheroid to describe a sphere "squashed at the poles". Modern literature uses the term "ellipsoid of revolution" although the qualifying words "of revolution" are usually dropped. An ellipsoid which is not an ellipsoid of revolution is called a tri-axial ellipsoid. Spheroid and ellipsoid are used interchangeably in this article.
Read more about this topic: Meridian Arc
Famous quotes containing the word earth:
“Since man’s highest mission on earth is to spiritualize everything, it is his excrement in particular that needs it most.”
—Salvador Dali (1904–1989)