Important Flat Earth versus Globe Earth Information
THIS IS HELPFUL TO READ: This Flat Earth versus Spherical Earth calculation tool enables you to experiment with various real-world scenario models. Use this tool to see how well a Flat Earth
or a Spherical Earth Model matches with what you actually see in real life.
PLEASE NOTE: Regardless of Flat or Spherical Earth, most real-world scenario figures do not show up well in the models shown
below due to the fact that Earth is very large relative to the following three factors: building/object heights, your eye height above water, and the distance between you and any object.
Most real-world differences in elevation will show up as only a single pixel if it’s a large enough amount to even invoke a single pixel. Your ability to see elevation differences in the models below will
partly depend upon the size and resolution of your screen and the zoom level you set the below models to. However, the description for each scenario model does
give you actual numbers accurate to real-world scale which should offer enough information for you to draw your own accurate conclusions.
There is no description data provided here for Flat Earth Models because the numbers are the same regarding your eye height, tower/object height, and distance in both flat and spherical models.
The remaining numbers are not relevant due to the fact that in any flat earth model you will always see the entire object no matter how low or how high you’re viewing it from.
Flat Earth Expectations: With any Flat Earth scenario, you as the observer should always be able to see an entire object no matter how far away it is provided
that you are viewing it over a of relatively calm body water and the air is clear and reasonably dry.
Spherical Earth Expectations: With any Spherical Earth scenario, if the object is at a greater distance than your water horizon, then you as the observer should always have a diminishing view of any object as your distance from
the object increases. These experiments work best when viewing over a relatively calm body of water and the air is clear and reasonably dry. The closer your eyes get to water level then the more atmospheric distortion you will experience.
4 Sample Scenarios: Four example scenario buttons below have been added. Some of these examples correspond with pictures that are shown in Lesson 9.
“Chicago” views the John Hancock building.
“Sheboygan” views the 525-foot power plant smokestacks.
“Two Rivers” views the breakwater pier.
“Exaggerated” is an example that is greatly exaggerated to better show differences between Flat and Spherical Earth models.
AN IMPORTANT POINT TO UNDERSTAND: In both “Exaggerated” examples, the object and the distance between the eye and the object are the same,
however, the Eye Height is different. Take note of the difference in Line-Of-Sight height at the object’s location between the two Exaggerated models.