The world is round and they call it a planet. If it were flat, would we call it round?

The question of whether we would call the world round if it was actually flat is a fascinating one, but it presupposes that the Earth is indeed flat, which is not supported by any scientific evidence. In reality, the Earth is an oblate spheroid, meaning that it is roughly spherical in shape, but slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator due to centrifugal forces caused by rotation. This shape has been empirically confirmed using a variety of methods, including satellite imagery, photographs from space, and measurements taken by explorers and scientists throughout history.

The idea of a flat Earth was a common conception in many ancient cultures, but it was gradually replaced by the spherical Earth model as scientific understanding advanced. The ancient Greeks were among the first to propose a spherical model of the Earth, although this idea was not universally accepted at the time. By the early Christian era, the idea of a spherical Earth was widely accepted, with some notable exceptions.

One of the key pieces of evidence for a spherical Earth is the appearance of the Earth's shadow during a lunar eclipse. If the Earth were flat, the shadow cast by the Earth during a lunar eclipse would always be a straight line. However, the fact that the shadow is curved indicates that the Earth has a curved surface.

Another piece of evidence for the Earth's spherical shape is the fact that different constellations are visible from different parts of the world. If the Earth were flat, we would always be able to see the same stars, regardless of where we were located. However, the fact that different stars are visible from different parts of the world is consistent with a spherical Earth.

In conclusion, the notion that we would call the Earth round if it were actually flat is an interesting thought experiment, but it has no basis in reality. The Earth is an oblate spheroid, and this shape has been confirmed through a variety of scientific observations and measurements throughout history. While the flat Earth theory has been debunked, it continues to be espoused by a small number of individuals and groups, largely through the use of social media and the internet. However, it is important to remember that belief in a flat Earth is not supported by any empirical evidence, and is contradicted by the overwhelming majority of scientific findings.