Why is it that the planet Mars has no magnetic field, even with an iron core much like the Earth's?
2007-02-03 16:07:24 · 7 answers · asked by Dacey 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Interestingly, Mars did have a global magnetic field at one time, probably very early in it's history. Something occured about 4 billion years ago to shut it down but the remanent magnetism recorded in the magnetic minerals in Mars' crust (measured by the Mars Global Surveyor) tell us that it did have an ancient global magnetic field similar to Earth's. This suggests that Mars probably does have a conductive liquid outer core like Earth's (and perhaps a solid iron inner core) by which a core dynamo process generated a global magnetic field for a few hundred thousand years. Research at Cal. Inst. of Tech. suggests that perhaps changes in mantle heating and/or convection destabilized the dynamo and shut down the process. Interaction between convective cells in the D'' layer of the mantle and the outer liquid core is theorized to contribute to Earth's core dynamo process, which generates our magnetic field.
2007-02-03 18:38:30 · answer #1 · answered by GatorGal 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
According to the latest work at NASA, currently, Mars does not have a global magnetic field. But it did have one early in its life, similar to that of Earth. Even though it doesn't have a global magnetic field today, Mars does have very strong crustal magnetic fields, more than 30 times stronger than those of Earth.
2007-02-03 20:02:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
magnetic field don't just have a reason to be present because there is iron content in a material.... materials are classified as ferromagnetic, diamagnetic,paramagnetic and ferrimagnetic... depending on arrangements and magnetic dipoles' arragments at a molecular level.....
even a nail that u use is made up of iron ..it odesnt mean it is by nature magnetic!... it depends on the arrangements of magnetic dipole in it!
an understanding of the basic cause of magnetism and magnetic dipoles will help u appreciate you query!..
you can pick up any book on solid-state-physics(like solid state physics by A.J.Dekker) to get an indept analysis of magnetism...
2007-02-03 16:25:07 · answer #3 · answered by mac parkinson 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It doesn't have a molten core like the Earth does.
2007-02-03 16:13:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Her core is death unless we, scientists, go to mars and fire her up again. - Discovery Channel. Layman's say she needs a jumpstart.
2007-02-03 18:59:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The core isn't molten and moving, might have something to do with it.
2007-02-03 16:13:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
We have it!
2007-02-03 16:14:53 · answer #7 · answered by Tropical Weasel 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋