The Earth is approximately an oblate spheroid, which means it is spherical but slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator. It is not flat. The notion that the Earth is flat is a misconception that has been debunked by scientific evidence and centuries of observations.
There are several reasons why we know the Earth is not flat:
Direct observations: Through various means such as satellite imagery, photographs taken from space, and observations from high altitudes, we can directly see the curvature of the Earth. These observations clearly show a spherical shape.
Gravity: The distribution of mass within the Earth creates a gravitational field that acts toward the center of the planet. Gravity pulls objects toward the Earth's center, and this force is consistent with a spherical shape. If the Earth were flat, gravity would act differently, and objects would not experience the same gravitational pull in all locations.
Circumnavigation: People have circumnavigated the Earth by traveling in a straight line and eventually returning to their starting point. This is only possible on a spherical surface, not on a flat plane.
Time zones: The existence of time zones is a result of the Earth's rotation. As different parts of the Earth face or move away from the Sun, it creates a variation in time. This phenomenon is consistent with a spherical Earth.
Gravity's effect on mass distribution: The distribution of mass and gravitational forces on Earth can be measured and studied. The gravitational anomalies observed across the Earth's surface are consistent with a non-uniform distribution of mass on a spherical shape.
These are just a few of the many lines of evidence that support the spherical shape of the Earth. The idea that the Earth is flat is a misconception that disregards scientific evidence, observations, and the knowledge accumulated over centuries.