The Earth is not a perfect sphere, but rather an oblate spheroid, meaning it is mostly spherical

but slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator. There are a few reasons why the
Earth has this shape:

Gravity: Gravity pulls objects toward its center. As the Earth formed from a rotating disk of gas
and dust, gravity caused it to collapse into a roughly spherical shape. The rotation of the Earth
also contributes to the bulging at the equator due to centrifugal force, which counteracts gravity.

Rotation: The Earth rotates on its axis, and this rotation causes a bulging effect at the equator.
Objects at the equator are moving faster in terms of linear velocity than those at the poles
because they have to cover a larger distance in the same amount of time.

Density Differences: Variations in the distribution of mass and density within the Earth also
contribute to its shape. Differences in the composition and distribution of materials in the Earth's
interior affect its overall shape.

Tidal Forces: The gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun on the Earth's oceans
also contribute to the shape. These forces cause the Earth's oceans to bulge, creating a
noticeable effect.

While the Earth is not a perfect sphere, the term "round" is often used informally to describe its
overall shape. The idea that the Earth is round has been known since ancient times and was
famously confirmed by circumnavigation and observations of the curvature of the Earth's
shadow during a lunar eclipse.

By ChatGpt