Earth’s Magnetic Field

The Magnetosphere

And

The Van Allen Belts

Magnetic Fields and Field LinesA magnetic field pushes on moving charged particles.It is generated by a moving electric chargeSuch 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 creates 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 inner core

• and how fast it spins

The Magnetosphere and the Van Allen BeltsThe magnetic field traps the charged particles of the

ionosphere pushing them into the magnetosphereWhich 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 AuroraThe 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