the earth was flat evolution of scientific theory
The Evolution of Scientific Thought Essay
There use to be a time when all of humanity thought the earth was flat. But it didn’t start that way; all it took was one man to say the world was flat, and no one disputed him. No scientific experiments were conducted to test the accuracy of his statement. Instead everything was based on hearsay and physical observation. But the world has evolved, into a place where nothing can be taken for face value. But the question is, how the world went from thinking the earth was flat, to knowing the earth is and always has been- elliptical? The purpose of this report is to discuss the evolution from physical observation, to scientific investigation. I will do this by elaborating on the evolution from the earth being flat to the earth being round. The flat Earth theory states that the world is a flat disk rather than a sphere. As early as the fourth century B.C. however, philosophers and scientists realized that the Earth was actually a sphere. Aristotle was one Greek philosopher who advocated that Earth was a sphere. This debate has raged on in many cultures throughout the centuries. Now, some believe that most educated people since around the fourth century B.C. and on realized that the Earth was a sphere, and that the belief that the flat earth theory was widespread is just a myth that took root in the 19th century. This theory was prevalent because it helped navigation on ships easier if explorers knew if the earth was flat or round. One experiment scientists have conducted to disprove the theory that the earth is flat is to find a canal or similar stretch of water running in an uninterrupted straight line for at least six miles, like the one used in the famous Bedford Level Experiment during the 19th and early 20th centuries, then place a set of three poles fixed at equal heights above the water level along this length. Assuming the water is level; the middle pole will be almost three feet
There use to be a time when all of humanity thought the earth was flat. But it didn’t start that way; all it took was one man to say the world was flat, and no one disputed him. No scientific experiments were conducted to test the accuracy of his statement. Instead everything was based on hearsay and physical observation. But the world has evolved, into a place where nothing can be taken for face value. But the question is, how the world went from thinking the earth was flat, to knowing the earth is and always has been- elliptical? The purpose of this report is to discuss the evolution from physical observation, to scientific investigation. I will do this by elaborating on the evolution from the earth being flat to the earth being round. The flat Earth theory states that the world is a flat disk rather than a sphere. As early as the fourth century B.C. however, philosophers and scientists realized that the Earth was actually a sphere. Aristotle was one Greek philosopher who advocated that Earth was a sphere. This debate has raged on in many cultures throughout the centuries. Now, some believe that most educated people since around the fourth century B.C. and on realized that the Earth was a sphere, and that the belief that the flat earth theory was widespread is just a myth that took root in the 19th century. This theory was prevalent because it helped navigation on ships easier if explorers knew if the earth was flat or round. One experiment scientists have conducted to disprove the theory that the earth is flat is to find a canal or similar stretch of water running in an uninterrupted straight line for at least six miles, like the one used in the famous Bedford Level Experiment during the 19th and early 20th centuries, then place a set of three poles fixed at equal heights above the water level along this length. Assuming the water is level; the middle pole will be almost three feet