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Sheneron
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What causes of the equatorial bulge? I have tried looking it up online but I am having some trouble finding a good explanation.
D H said:What the Earth does (and what the spinning pizza does) is to change shape in a manner that minimizes the total energy of the Earth (or pizza).
The equatorial bulge is the observed phenomenon of the Earth's shape being slightly wider at the equator compared to the poles. This occurs due to the centrifugal force caused by the Earth's rotation, pushing outwards at the equator and causing the Earth's shape to bulge.
The Earth's equatorial diameter is approximately 12,756 km, while its polar diameter is only 12,714 km. This means that the equatorial bulge causes the Earth to be about 42 km wider at the equator compared to the poles, which is a small difference in relation to the Earth's overall size.
In addition to the centrifugal force, the Earth's rotation also causes the planet to flatten at the poles. This is known as the oblate spheroid shape. The Earth's rotation rate, density, and composition can also affect the degree of equatorial bulge.
No, the equatorial bulge is a common feature of rotating celestial bodies. For example, other planets such as Saturn and Jupiter also have an equatorial bulge, although their rotational speeds and compositions may differ from Earth's.
The equatorial bulge can be measured using various methods, such as satellite missions and gravitational measurements. Scientists also use models and simulations to study the Earth's shape and understand the factors contributing to the equatorial bulge.