Earth
In our Solar System , planet Earth is the third in distance from the Sun and the fifth largest in diameter. The mean distance of the Earth from the Sun is 149,503,000 km, and radius varies from 6378 km in the equator to 6356 km in polar direction. It is the only planet known to support (intelligent) life, although some of the other planets have atmospheres and contain water (it has been shown lately that there could have been some life in ancient Mars!)
For the space physicist, the most important aspect of the Earth is that it behaves as an enormous magnet. The English physician and natural philosopher William Gilbert was the first to demonstrate this similarity in about 1600, although the effects of terrestrial magnetism had been utilized much earlier in primitive compasses. In first order the magnetic field created by this magnet is that of a dipole whose axis is tilted with respect to the spin axis by about 11 degrees. The north magnetic pole is presently located off the western coast of Bathurst Island, in the Canadian Northwest Territories, almost 1290 km northwest of Hudson Bay. The south magnetic pole is presently situated at the edge of the Antarctic continent in Adélie Land about 1930 km northeast of Little America. The magnetic field points down towards the surface of the Earth in the northern hemisphere, and away from it in the southern hemisphere. The difference between the dipole axis and geographic axis is one of the reasons why there are so many different coordinate systems needed to describe locations in space around the Earth.
The area around the Earth governed by its magnetic field is called the magnetosphere . The properties of the magnetosphere are strongly affected by the solar wind . The interaction between the solar wind and the magnetosphere is important in space physics.
2006-11-11 02:02:05
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answer #1
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answered by Krishna 6
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We live on a magnet. The earth itself has a large magnetic field called the geomagnetic field. You can see the effects of the field when you use a compass to find out which direction is north.
Earth's magnetic field is very complicated. It can be thought of as being one large magnetic dipole with twelve more small magnets arranged at various angles.
A curious fact about Earth's magnetic field is that it is not lined up with the spin axis. Its alignment is about 11 degrees off the axis defined by the north and south poles. (Without knowing this, you can't find the North pole using only a compass!)
What does Earth's magnetic field do for us?
The magnetic field helps us find our way around. Using a compass, we can tell which way is north even when there are no familiar landmarks in sight.
The magnetic field shields us from much harmful radiation. Cosmic rays come from all directions, and the sun sends out a steady stream of high-energy particles known as the solar wind.
Genesis 1:6 describes the firmament (Hebrew raqia) separating the water below from the water above. Before the flood described in Genesis, the magnetic field may even have helped to suspend the firmament above the earth.
Is the Earth's field changing?
Scientists have made many careful measurements of the magnetic field over 150 years. These measurements show that the magnetic field is slowly shrinking. The intensity of the field decreases by half in 1400 years. This means that as time goes on we have less protection from cosmic radiation and the solar wind.
How strong has it been?
In 560 A.D. the field was twice as strong as it is now. In David's kingdom it was four times as strong. In Noah's time it was eight times as strong. There are limits to how intense the magnetic field could have been. If we assume that the field has been decaying at the same rate for 10,000 years, the field would have been more intense than that of a magnetic star. The heat and electrical extremes from such conditions would have made life on earth impossible.
This presents a significant problem for evolutionists and their belief in a 4.6-billion-year-old earth. Their answer is the dynamo theory, which assumes that the core of the earth is made of molten metal (iron-nickel mixture). Molten material inside the earth is far hotter than the Curie point, which means that the earth as a whole is not a permanent magnet; it must be an electromagnet. The dynamo theory is that slow, internal convection currents or planetary rotation generates the magnetic field, and that this mechanism has operated for the assumed 4.6 billion years. Since This theory also claims that the field reverses over extremely long periods of time.
2006-11-12 16:07:45
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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In our Solar System , planet Earth is the third in distance from the Sun and the fifth largest in diameter. The mean distance of the Earth from the Sun is 149,503,000 km, and radius varies from 6378 km in the equator to 6356 km in polar direction. It is the only planet known to support (intelligent) life, although some of the other planets have atmospheres and contain water (it has been shown lately that there could have been some life in ancient Mars!)
For the space physicist, the most important aspect of the Earth is that it behaves as an enormous magnet. The English physician and natural philosopher William Gilbert was the first to demonstrate this similarity in about 1600, although the effects of terrestrial magnetism had been utilized much earlier in primitive compasses. In first order the magnetic field created by this magnet is that of a dipole whose axis is tilted with respect to the spin axis by about 11 degrees. The north magnetic pole is presently located off the western coast of Bathurst Island, in the Canadian Northwest Territories, almost 1290 km northwest of Hudson Bay. The south magnetic pole is presently situated at the edge of the Antarctic continent in Adélie Land about 1930 km northeast of Little America. The magnetic field points down towards the surface of the Earth in the northern hemisphere, and away from it in the southern hemisphere. The difference between the dipole axis and geographic axis is one of the reasons why there are so many different coordinate systems needed to describe locations in space around the Earth.
The area around the Earth governed by its magnetic field is called the magnetosphere . The properties of the magnetosphere are strongly affected by the solar wind . The interaction between the solar wind and the magnetosphere is important in space physics.
The earth, like other magnets, is made mostly of iron. The core of the earth is molten iron. As a result of the motion of the iron, positive and negative charge is built up.
Near the north pole is a location called "magnetic north". There is a counterpart near the south pole.
Magnetic lines of force extend around the globe from north to south. We are protected from most high energy particles from outer space which are deflected by the earth's magnetic field. The "northern lights", otherwise know as the "Auroroa Borealis", are a cool visual effect created by the particles and our protective magnetic shield.
so it's the answer
2006-11-11 02:06:57
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answer #3
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answered by becooooooooooooooooool 2
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The earth, like other magnets, is made mostly of iron. The core of the earth is molten iron. As a result of the motion of the iron, positive and negative charge is built up.
Near the north pole is a location called "magnetic north". There is a counterpart near the south pole.
Magnetic lines of force extend around the globe from north to south. We are protected from most high energy particles from outer space which are deflected by the earth's magnetic field. The "northern lights", otherwise know as the "Auroroa Borealis", are a cool visual effect created by the particles and our protective magnetic shield.
Hope this helps!
2006-11-11 02:02:53
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answer #4
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answered by cfpops 5
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Because of the molten metal in the Earth's core, the Earth generates a strong magnetic field. This is why some people may refer to the Earth as a magnet.
2006-11-11 02:01:11
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answer #5
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answered by michaell 6
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Earth is called a magnet because it behaves that way. If you take two pieces of magnetized rod you will see that each has two poles and that opposite poles attract. Similarly if you have a piece of isolated thin magnetized material like a compass needle it will automatically align in a particular direction. These things are well known from observations. Now for such a compass needle that happens even in the absence of another magnetized material. That is because in this case the presence of earth itself makes it behave that way. So earth is a magnet. If you carry the compass needle at various places on earth you will see that the deflections of the needle at various places are consistent in this picture of earth as a magnet.
2006-11-11 03:41:35
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answer #6
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answered by Roy 2
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The earth is a magnet, i.e., it has an significant magnetic field, a field that extends previous the earth into area close to the earth and, specific, we would desire to consistently be pleased about this through fact, with out it, existence in the international may well be plenty diverse. yet.. that is not a "very severe magnetic field", a minimum of, not with the help of assessment to the sector power of small everlasting magnets. in certainty, all the failings made up of steel are attracted. in case you're taking a compas everywhere in the international, that is going to align itself with the earth's magnetic field. of direction the fee of the charm is tremendously small so, extremely steel sitting on a table won't turn to align itself through fact the stress of friction is plenty larger than the magnetic stress.
2016-11-23 15:32:09
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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Because the poles of the earth ae magnetic with each having opposite force . the poles attract and repel magnets. The magnetic forces ae in the poles onkly and not at all points -as in the case of a magnet . But the forces of gravity are present at all points and its characer is different from the foces of a magnet . gravity repels nothing and it has no opposite force . It ( gravity ) is present in all matters in direct proportion to its mass., whereas magnetism is present in Iron and steel.
2006-11-13 05:26:47
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answer #8
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answered by Infinity 7
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Because the Earth's core is made of Iron and Iron is magnetic.
2006-11-11 14:57:56
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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its because earth posseses a magnetic field around itself. it's north pole behaves as its magnetic south pole and its south pole behaves asits magnetic north pole. thats why a magnet aligns itself when suspended freely.
2006-11-11 02:07:47
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answer #10
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answered by Arty 2
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