The Planet Is Not A Sphere

Earth is not a perfect sphere, but an oblate spheroid that bulges at the center. This slight distortion is caused by our planet spinning on its axis, which creates a centrifugal force that pushes the middle outward.

Because of this constant rotation, Earth is actually thicker around the equator than it is from pole to pole. This means that if you stand at the equator, you are technically miles further from the Earth's center than someone standing at the North Pole. Gravity is also slightly weaker at the equator because of this extra distance and the centrifugal effect. It is a subtle change, but one that proves our home is a dynamic and shifting physical body.