Earth’s Magnetic Field The Magnetosphere And The Van Allen Belts

Magnetic Fields and Field Lines A magnetic field pushes on moving charged particles. It is generated by a moving electric charge Such as in a magnet or an electric current Magnetic field lines show which direction a charged particle is pushed by a magnetic field You can use a compass to show the direction of the lines

The Origin of Earth’s Magnetic Field The Spinning of the metallic Inner Core and convection currents in the metallic Outer Core create a magnetic field around the Earth The magnetic poles are close to but not exactly the same as the geographic poles of Earth The Strength of the field is directly related to: the metal mass of the core and how fast it spins

The Magnetosphere and the Van Allen Belts The magnetic field traps the charged particles of the ionosphere pushing them into the magnetosphere Which stretches out two or three times Earth’s Radius! They form two donut shaped belts called the inner and outer Van Allen Belts Particles in the belts are dangerous to spacecraft and astronauts

Protection and The Aurora The magnetic field protects us by channeling super-fast, high energy charged particles from the Sun away from the Earth. They flow around the field This causes electrons to flow along the field lines to the poles where they rain down energizing the molecules of the atmosphere making them glow … The Aurora