EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD Flashcards
How does a compass indicate the direction of a magnetic field?
Compass needles line up with magnetic fields. Since Earth is a magnet, a compass will normally line up with Earth’s magnetic field. Because opposite magnetic poles attract, the magnetic north pole of the compass points toward the magnetic south pole of the Earth.
What is the magnetic field of the Earth compared to the magnetic field of a bar magnet using words and diagrams.
Earth’s magnetic field is similar to that of a bar magnet in that both have north and south poles. The magnetic field lines of both Earth and a bar magnet originate from the north pole and loop around to the south pole.
Then draw the earth’s magnetic fields and the poles.
Explain the difference between the geographical North pole and the magnetic
The north pole of the Earth.
The geographic north pole of the Earth is the northernmost part of the axis around which the Earth rotates.
The magnetic north pole is the point to which the side marked N on a magnet will point.
What are some examples of phenomena that are affected by Earth’s magnetic field?
Aurora Borealis (NORTH) and the Aurora Australis (SOUTH).
Discuss qualitatively how the earth’s magnetic field provides protection from
solar winds.
The magnetosphere deflects solar winds away from the Earth and prevents them from reaching the Earth.
Solar winds are a flow of radioactive and charged particles.
This is a result of the reactions taking place in the sun. Without the magnetosphere, the Earth would be damaged by the solar winds, and no life on Earth would be possible.
