Can you explain how the Earth creates a magnetic field, and what are some of the natural occurrences it influences?

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Can you explain how the Earth creates a magnetic field, and what are some of the natural occurrences it influences?

In: Earth Science

2 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

You know how when you have a magnet there is a “sphere of influence” close to the magnetic where you can start to feel the magnet’s strength? Magnets can be made from Iron, which is what the Earth’s inner core is mostly made of.

So now imagine a magnet around 1,200 km in size (Earth’s core). The sphere of influence of the magnetic field is “The Earth’s Magnetic Field”

Anonymous 0 Comments

So: the core of the earth is made of hot, molten, flowing metal.

The hot, flowing metal makes electrical currents. Electricity and magnetism are different components of the same thing, so (for big-brained physics reasons) electrical currents generate a secondary magnetic field.

Probably the biggest natural occurrence it affects is protecting the earth from the solar wind, by deflecting charged particles from hitting the earth. A side effect of this is the aurora borealis.