The document describes characteristics of the geoid. The geoid is the equipotential surface that best fits mean global sea level. It is an irregular surface shaped by the uneven distribution of mass within and on the Earth's surface. The geoid cannot be modeled as a regular surface due to its irregular shape determined by the ellipsoid rotated about its minor axis.
14. What of the following does not describe the geoid a. approximate.pdf
1. 14. What of the following does not describe the geoid? a. approximate mean sea level b.
equipotential surface c. regular surface d. irregular surface that cannot be modeled Professor
Scott Peterson 12/12/16 Final GME 15 Exam
Solution
14) Option C
Geoid is the equipotential surface of the Earth's gravity field which best fits, in a least squares
sense the global mean sea level. It is the mathematical figure of Earth, a smooth but highly
irregular surface from the uneven distribution of mass within and on the surface of Earth.
15) Option D
Its shape is determined by the shape parameters of the ellipse generated by the ellipsoid when it
is rotated about its minor axis