SHIPS DISAPPEAR AS THEY SAIL AWAY. IS THIS NOT PROOF OF THE EARTH'S CURVATURE?

Ships disappear as they sail away. Is this not proof of the Earth's curvature?

Question: Ships disappear as they sail away. Is this not proof of the Earth's curvature?

By: WLC Team

Answer: While it was once thought that it was the curvature of the Earth (or water) that caused the hull of ships to disappear as they traveled away from the viewer, we now know that this is simply due to the "law of perspective." Entire ships that have long disappeared to the naked eye can easily be brought back into view with the aid of a telescope or similar magnification device.

"This law of Perspective meets us on every hand; and cannot be gainsaid. If, on a straight road, we observe a row of lamps, which are all of the same size, we shall find that, from our standpoint, their height will gradually diminish as we look toward the farther end; but, if we ourselves approach to that end, the nearer we get to it, the higher proportionately will the lamps appear. Again, if, on a straight line, we look at a frozen lake from a certain distance, we shall observe people who appear to be skating on their knees, but, if we approach sufficiently near, we shall see them performing graceful motions on their feet. Farther, if we look through a straight tunnel, we shall notice that the roof and the roadway below converge to a point of light at the end. It is the same law which makes the hills sink, to the horizon, as the observer recedes, which explains how the ship's hull disappears in the offing. I would also remark that when the sea is undisturbed by waves, the hull can be restored to sight by the aid of a good telescope long after it has disappeared from the naked eye, thus proving that the ship had not gone down behind the watery hill of a convex globe, but is still sailing on thelevel of a Plane sea." (Terra Firma: Earth Not a Planet, Proved from Scripture, Reason, and Fact, p. 75, David Wardlaw Scott)