HOW EARTH BECAME A GLOBE (1986 UNIVERSITY OF CANADA)

Summary

This video script challenges the widely accepted notion of a spherical Earth, proposing instead that the Earth is a flat, circular plane surrounded by an ice barrier. It critiques historical experiments and scientific figures, such as Eratosthenes and Copernicus, arguing that their findings were flawed or manipulated. The script presents various experiments, such as the Bedford Level Experiment, to support the flat Earth model, while questioning the logic behind modern scientific theories like Earth's spin and continental drift. Ultimately, it advocates for open-minded exploration of alternative explanations and the rejection of mainstream scientific dogma.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Earth is commonly believed to be a spherical object orbiting the Sun, but some claim it is a flat, circular disc surrounded by an ice barrier.
• 😀 The ancient Greek scholar, Eratosthenes, is often credited with proving the Earth is spherical, but doubts exist about the accuracy of his experiment and methods.
• 😀 Some argue that Eratosthenes' findings could be explained by assuming the Earth is flat, not spherical, and the angle of the Sun can be calculated using simple geometry.
• 😀 The flat Earth theory gained some acceptance in the Renaissance, partly due to patronage from wealthy sponsors and the desire for original thinking.
• 😀 Nicolaus Copernicus proposed the heliocentric model of a round Earth revolving around the Sun in 1543, but presented it as a hypothesis, delaying publication for years.
• 😀 The theory of a round Earth became widely accepted after its endorsement by the Church of England, which wanted to appear progressive and forward-thinking in the 16th century.
• 😀 One of the common arguments for a round Earth is that ships disappear hull-first when sailing away, but proponents of the flat Earth theory argue this is due to light refraction, not the Earth's curvature.
• 😀 The use of plumbob tools for building construction is used to argue that if the Earth were a sphere, buildings would taper and boats would sail downhill, which they do not.
• 😀 Samuel Burley Robotham (under the pseudonym Parallax) conducted experiments in the 19th century on the Old Bedford Level canal to demonstrate that the Earth's surface is flat.
• 😀 The Earth's supposed rotation at over 1,000 mph at the equator is questioned, with the argument that we don't experience wind or dizziness from such speed as would be expected on a spinning sphere.
• 😀 The concept of continental drift is challenged by flat Earth proponents, who argue that if the Earth were a spinning sphere, centrifugal force would push continents toward the equator.
• 😀 The notion of space and non-space is introduced as a way to explain why certain celestial bodies (like the Sun and Moon) appear to move in a predictable pattern, despite the Earth's supposed motion.
• 😀 Proponents of the flat Earth theory argue that mainstream science dismisses unknown aspects of the Earth's structure, preferring to eliminate what doesn't fit the conventional model.

Q & A

What is the common misconception about the Earth's shape that the video addresses?

The common misconception is that the Earth is a spherical object that revolves around the Sun. The video challenges this view and proposes that the Earth is flat, disc-shaped and surrounded by an ice barrier.

Who was Aratus Theeni, and what experiment did he conduct to support the spherical Earth theory?

Aratus Theeni was an Egyptian scholar who, about 2,000 years ago, conducted an experiment where he claimed to have proven the Earth was a sphere. The experiment involved observing the Sun's position in two different locations and calculating the Earth's radius.

What doubts are raised about Aratus Theeni's experiment?

The video casts doubt on the accuracy of Aratus Theeni's data and scientific procedures, questioning how he could have known the Sun's position in two places 530 miles apart at the same time.

Who is Ptolemy, and what was his view on the shape of the Earth?

Ptolemy was a Greek astronomer who, for 1,200 years, maintained that the Earth was flat, circular, and the central body of the universe, a view that went largely unchallenged until the Renaissance.

What impact did the Renaissance have on the debate about Earth's shape?

During the Renaissance, creative thinking and patronage from the upper class led to the acceptance of more radical ideas, including the round Earth theory proposed by Copernicus in 1543.

How did Copernicus present his round Earth theory?

Copernicus suggested that the Earth was a spherical object revolving around the Sun. He presented it as a hypothesis and waited 13 years to publish it, even withholding the book until his death.

What argument is presented against the idea that Earth is a rotating sphere, involving plumbobs?

The video argues that if the Earth were spherical, plumbobs (used to create vertical lines in construction) would point in different directions at different latitudes, causing buildings to be unevenly sized from top to bottom. This would contradict the observed reality.

What is the significance of ships disappearing hull-first when sailing out to sea?

The video argues that this observation, often cited as proof of the Earth's curvature, can be explained by the fact that the light rays from the lower part of the ship no longer reach the observer, giving the illusion that the ship is disappearing over a curve.

What experiments did Samuel Burley Robottom conduct to support the flat Earth theory?

Samuel Burley Robottom, also known as Parallax, conducted experiments on the Old Bedford Level Canal in England, where he observed that the surface of the water remained flat over a 6-mile stretch, contradicting the expectation of curvature if the Earth were a sphere.

What challenges does the video present to the idea of Earth’s motion, particularly regarding the speed of rotation?

The video challenges the idea that the Earth spins at high speeds, suggesting that if the Earth were rotating at 1,000 mph, people would feel the effects, such as strong winds, but in reality, the atmosphere doesn't exhibit such turbulence.

What is continental drift, and how does it factor into the flat Earth argument?

Continental drift is the idea that continents move as though floating on a fluid. The video argues that if the Earth were spinning as claimed by spherical Earth proponents, centrifugal forces would push the continents toward the equator, which isn't observed in reality.