The Earth's Magnetic Field Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

Which part of the Earth generates its magnetic field, and what produces it?

The (magnetic outer) core — moving charges/ions in it.

Which way does a compass needle point when it is placed at a point in a magnetic field?

Along the field line at that point, with its north end pointing in the direction of the field.

True or false? The magnetic pole of the Earth near its geographic North Pole is a magnetic north pole.

False. It is a magnetic south pole — that is why the north end of a compass needle is attracted towards it.

What is the behaviour of a magnetic compass evidence for about the Earth?

The needle points along a magnetic field, so the Earth has a magnetic field — it behaves as if there were a magnet inside it, showing the core is magnetic.

When plotting compasses are placed around a model of the Earth, how should the sketched field lines relate to them?

The field lines outside the Earth should line up with the compass needles, and continue inside the Earth towards the imaginary poles.