If I understand it correctly, the "north" pole and the "south" pole are like the ends of magnets, creating the magnetic field. Yet, isnt the core of the earth molten?
2007-07-21 05:14:09 · 4 answers · asked by leikevy 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Liquid iron is an electrical conductor (ferromagnetism has nothing to do with it). Thermal convection of the iron caused by buoyancy due to internal radioactive heating results in a pattern of electrical current and a magnetic field that reinforce each other. Basically, if you move a conductor in a magnetic field (by performing work on it), you get a current. That current, in turn, creates the magnetic field.
One interesting feature of this "dynamo" effect is that the same flow pattern can support a magnetic field in either direction. As a result, every now an then the earth's magnetic field flips. I'm not sure what the trigger is.
2007-07-21 06:02:44 · answer #1 · answered by Dr. R 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If the core of the earth was really a melted iron ore comperessed at high temperature beyound the Curie level magnetism would not be supported.
Therefore the core of the earth cannot be the cause of magnetism since at high temperature, magnetic field cannot exist.
Magnetism is caused by near light speed motion of particle in a material latice. Such occurs in atoms by the electron spin which is close to the velocity of light.
Water which is a fluid covers our planet as a moving one. The motion of the current of the seas and oceans is the major cause of magnetic induction intensity. If you apply the Right hand rule to the motion ,the location of the earth's magnetic poles can be identified.
2007-07-21 05:29:43 · answer #2 · answered by goring 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As Dr. R said. Note also the convective churning of the nickel-iron melt is interacting with the earths rotation to generate the effect.
2007-07-21 13:13:44 · answer #3 · answered by SAN 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As the energy of rotation of our planet increases in direction of the equator, the Coriolis effect forms. This energy deflects mass to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern one.
There is an illustration of why this force operates as it does at http://youtube.com "gravity engine". It is in the first of two segments.
2007-07-21 05:23:29 · answer #4 · answered by d_of_haven 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋