BTN News: If the Earth were flat, our world would be very different and strange. Even though there is a lot of evidence that the Earth is round, some people still believe it is flat. Thinking about what would happen if the Earth were flat can help us see why this idea doesn’t make sense and understand basic science better.
Gravity and a Flat Earth
In a flat Earth model, gravity would work very differently. Normally, gravity pulls everything toward the center of a round Earth. But on a flat Earth, the center of gravity would be in the middle of the flat surface. According to the YouTube channel “What If” in their video “What If the Earth Were Really Flat?”, everything on the planet would be pulled toward this center point. The further you moved from the center, the stronger the pull would be, dragging you back. This force would become so strong that you would not be able to walk to the edges of the flat Earth. So, you could never reach places like the Antarctic edge or see what is on the other side.
Objects near the edges would fall sideways instead of down. Trees and other things that grow straight up would lean because of the pull toward the center. Rain would fall toward the middle, causing big floods there. The oceans would also move to the center, creating one huge ocean in the middle.
Air Pressure on a Flat Earth
Air pressure would be very different on a flat Earth too. If gravity pulled everything to the center, the air would also gather there. This would leave the edges with little or no air to breathe. People living near the center would be crushed by the heavy air. Life would be very hard, if not impossible, with such big differences in air pressure.
Day and Night on a Flat Earth
Day and night would also change a lot on a flat Earth. According to the “What If” video, there would be no natural day and night unless the Sun moved in a circle around the flat Earth. If the Sun was above, it would be day, and if it was below, it would be night. But this would mean no time zones and no seasons. The Sun would need to be smaller and closer to avoid burning the planet, but a smaller Sun would not give enough heat, making the Earth very cold.
Without a round Earth to cast shadows, there would be no eclipses. Eclipses happen because the Earth, Sun, and Moon line up in a certain way. On a flat Earth, such alignments would be impossible.
Conclusion
Thinking about a flat Earth shows us many scientific problems and helps us see why the Earth is round. Gravity, air pressure, day and night, and eclipses all depend on the Earth being round. By considering these things, we can understand why the flat Earth theory is wrong and appreciate the science that explains our world.
