Does Earth Really Rotate and Review of Earth Shape

Author(s): Abhaysagar
Publisher: Jambudvi Vignyan Research Centre

Page 32

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Here, it should also be understood that if light passes through an object, it comes out in the same shape as that of the object. Thus, the object we see also appears to have a similar shape. As for example, if we see through a semi-circular or bi-angular or tri-angular or quadrangular pipe, from a certain distance objects will appear to us having the same shape as the pipe itself has.
In this way our eyes are like convex lenses. So our- vision which passes through them centres around a certain limit. Thus it is quite natural that objects beyond that limit must appear round. From this it is quite clear that the illustration of the-steamboat, put forward to prove the earth to be round, does not stand the test of logic or experience. It is presented to prove one's belief on the strength of inference only.
BEDFORD LEVEL EXPERIMENT:
One very important proof of the roundness of the earth is also given by citing an experiment made by Dr. Wallace of Bedfordshire in England. (See fig. on page 46)
Three bamboo-poles of the same length were fixed on an even water level in a big lake. But on observing from a distance the middle bamboo-pole appeared a little above. the other two. Why so? This is possible only if the middle pole is some what longer than the other two.
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