They are found within the bounds of the ocean floor and in the transitional zone and are divided into two morphological typesâflat, or subhorizontal, and hilly. Flat abyssal plains are confined to the margins of ocean basins or to the centers of the basins of epicontinental seas. Hilly abyssal plains occupy a large part of the bottom of the ocean floor. The surface of the flat abyssal plain is characterized by exceptional evenness, with floor gradients of less than 0.001. Starkly contrasting solitary seamounts, evidently of volcanic origin, are also found.
The first person to do so ever was as early as the 3rd century BC by Aristarchus of Samos. Unfortunately, his notion gained only few supporters and was summarily rejected. Later in the 16th century, Nicholas Copernicus presented a mathematical model. In the next century, Johannes Kepler made inclusions of elliptical orbits, and Galileo Galilei presented supporting observations made using a telescope.
Einstein's theory of general relativity predicted that the space-time around Earth would be not only warped but also twisted by the planet's rotation. Gravity Probe B showed this to be correct.Credit: NASA View full size image.In 1905, Albert Einstein determined that the laws of physics are the same for all non-accelerating observers, and that the speed of light in a vacuum was independent of the motion of all observers. This was the theory of special relativity.instein's theory of general relativity predicted that the space-time around Earth would be not only warped but also twisted by the planet's rotation. Gravity Probe B showed this to be correct. Credit: NASA View full size image.