The Earth lost it's magnetic field?
2006-07-24 08:34:38 · 8 answers · asked by pixellizedness 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
We would be bombarded by the sun's solar wind which is made up of electrons and alpha particles. Alpha particles are the same radiation coming out of uranium and radium, and are entirely deadly to all living things. If there is no magnetic field, the alpha particles will hit the earth, and probably kill us all of radiation sickness.
2006-07-24 09:11:00 · answer #1 · answered by trancevanbuuren 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
the Earth's magnetic field protects all life on the planet from deadly cosmic radiation. If it were to disappear, then life will soon be dead.
Cosmic radiation is made up of different electrically charged particles. Whenever a electrically charged particle moves, it creates magnetic field around it. This magnetic field reacts with the earth's magnetic field, slowed down and redirected to the magnetic poles. In this area the particles are slow enough to be safely absorbed by the atmosphere, giving off light. This is the cause of the auroras near the North and South pole.
If the Earth had no magnetic field, all the cosmic radiation would hit the earth head-on, which means the atmosphere would not absorb enough particles. The cosmic rays would then hit the Earth's surface, and the radiation these materials carry is more than lethal for most, if not all life forms.
2006-07-24 15:48:09 · answer #2 · answered by dennis_d_wurm 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When the earths magnetic field reverses every few hundred thousand years, there is a time when it is "inactive". During this period the earth is bombarded with the full force of solar winds. Depending on the particle density and speed of the wind and the time of exposure we may experience anything from light sunburn to mass extinctions.
But hey what, do I know? I'm just a physicist...
2006-07-24 18:52:28 · answer #3 · answered by Nick N 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Responders who claim life on earth would be obliterated are not correct. The earth's magnetic field has reversed numerous times in the earth's history, and obviously must go through zero to do so. (Last time I looked, we were still here.) The field does provide some protection against irradiation, but so does the atmosphere.
2006-07-24 16:29:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The magnetic field actually reverses periodically. When this happens again it's going to screw up everything from boats to satellites for awhile. Last magnetic shift was 60,000 years ago I believe.
2006-07-24 15:42:13 · answer #5 · answered by Nick Name 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The earth would lose all gravity, compasses would stop working, the atmosphere would drift off into space, and all life would die from either asphyxia, or from the radiation from the sun.
2006-07-24 18:38:14 · answer #6 · answered by Rich P. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The earth would go start into the sun!
Slowly burning us alive!
2006-07-24 15:39:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The boating/air transportation industry would go haywire!
2006-07-24 15:37:51 · answer #8 · answered by csucdartgirl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋