Oblate Spheroid
An oblate spheroid is a three-dimensional shape that resembles a flattened sphere. It is wider at the equator and slightly compressed at the poles. This shape occurs naturally in celestial bodies, such as the Earth, which is not a perfect sphere due to its rotation.
The term "oblate" comes from the Latin word meaning "flattened." In contrast, a prolate spheroid is elongated along its axis. The distinction between these shapes is important in fields like astronomy and geophysics, where understanding the shape of planets and other celestial objects is crucial for accurate modeling and analysis.