EARTH’S MAGNETISM

L.O.:
EXPLAIN EARTH’S
MAGNETISM AND IT
EFFECT ON LIFE ON
EARTH.
 Poles of a Magnet
• Magnets have a North and South Pole.
• Like poles repel.
• Unlike poles attract.
• What happens if you break a magnet in
half? Will you get two monopoles?
– No.

N S N S + N S
• Have you ever held two
magnets close to each other?
• They don't act like most
objects. If you try to push the
South poles together, they
repel each other. Two North
poles also repel each other.
Like poles repel

Unlike poles attract

 WHERE IS THE MAGNET

• Both Earth’s inner and outer core are metal, but the
outer core remains liquid while pressure keeps the
inner core solid. The liquid outer core is constantly
moving. This moving metal generates a magnetic
field around the planet. This magnetic field makes
a compass point to north or south. It also protects
the planet from the Sun’s harmful rays.
 MA G N E TI S M

• Heat and the Earth’s spin keep

the outer core moving. This
movement causes electrical
currents in the core, which is
mostly iron. The electrical
currents create a magnetic field
that extends into space. The
magnetic field is tilted slightly
from the Earth’s axis.
 THE EARTH IS A GIANT MAGNET

• At the center of the Earth spins the Earth's core. The core
is made up of mostly iron. The outer portion of the core
is liquid iron that spins and makes the earth into a giant
magnet. This is where we get the names for the north and
south poles. These poles are actually the positive and
negative poles of the Earth's giant magnet. This is very
useful to us here on Earth as it lets us use magnets in
compasses to find our way and make sure we are heading
in the right direction. It's also useful to animals such as
birds and whales who use the Earth's magnetic field to
find the right direction when migrating. Perhaps the most
important feature of the Earth's magnetic field is that it
protects us from the Sun's solar wind and radiation.
Like many Planets in our Solar System
the Earth has a Magnetic Field
The Earth behaves as if there was a
magnet in its interior.

N
The North Pole of the Earth has a “south”
polarity

N
As a result a compass will always point
towards the North

N
S A compass is a Magnetized
piece of metal that can spin.
N

N
S A compass is a Magnetized
piece of metal that can spin.
N

North attracts South

S
The north tip of the compass
always points towards the
North Pole of the Earth
N
A Magnetic Field also protects us from
the Solar Wind
 The Sun produces a stream of charged
particles that spread throughout the solar
system.
These particles are deflected by the
Earth’s Magnetic Field
What causes a Planet’s Magnetic Field?
The Earth’s Magnetic Field is created in the
same way you make an electromagnet
In an electromagnet the electrons move
around an iron nail

-
The Earth is made of four layers
The Crust:
A Thin Rock Material
The Crust:
A Thin Rock Material

The Mantle:
A Dense and Mostly Solid
Rock Material
The Crust:
A Thin Rock Material

The Mantle:
A Dense and Mostly Solid
Rock Material

The Outer Core:

Liquid Iron and Nickel
The Crust:
A Thin Rock Material

The Mantle:
A Dense and Mostly Solid
Rock Material

The Outer Core:

Liquid Iron and Nickel

The Inner Core:

Solid Iron and Nickel
The Iron Core of the Earth is an
Electromagnet
 The Iron Core of the Earth is an
electromagnet

The core is surrounded by

liquid Iron and Nickel
 The Iron Core of the Earth is an
electromagnet

The core is surrounded by

liquid Iron and Nickel

As electrons flow around the

core the magnetic field is
produced
 The Iron Core of the Earth is an
electromagnet

The core is surrounded by

liquid Iron and Nickel

As electrons flow around the

core the magnetic field is
produced

The Earth’s rotation makes

the electrons flow at very
high speeds
A planet’s magnetic field is measured using
an instrument called a Magnetometer
Many spacecraft carry Magnetometers to
measure the Magnetic Field.

Advanced Galileo
Mars Global
Composition
Surveyor
Explorer
 Other Planets in our Solar System have
Magnetic Fields
Planet Magnetic Field

Mercury 100 times weaker than Earth

Venus 25,000 times weaker than Earth

Earth 30,000 – 60,000 nT

Mars 5000 times weaker than Earth

Jupiter 20,000 times greater than Earth

Saturn 540 times greater than Earth

Uranus 40 times greater than Earth

Neptune ¼ that of Earth

Pluto None that we know of

 
 
•Make your own compass

•http://adventure.howstuffwor
ks.com/outdoor-activities/hiki
ng/compass2.htm
Sometimes the field completely flips.
The north and the south poles swap
places. Such reversals, recorded in the
magnetism of ancient rocks, are
unpredictable. 

They come at irregular intervals

averaging about 300,000 years; the last
one was 780,000 years ago. Are we
overdue for another? No one knows.
•TH E M AG N ET I C N O RT H P O L E I S
R ES P O NS I BL E FO R M O R E TH AN J U S T T H E
D I RE CT I O N A CO MPAS S P O I NT S . I T ' S AL S O
T H E S O U RC E O F T H E A U RO RA BO REA LI S ,
T H E D RA M AT I C LI G H TS TH AT AP PE AR W H EN
S O L A R RA D I ATI O N B O U NC ES O F F T H E
E AR TH ' S M AG N ET I C F I EL D .  

THIS HAPPENS AT THE SOUTH POLE AS WELL.

IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE, THE LIGHTS
ARE CALLED THE AURORA AUSTRALIS.
1. All magnets are surrounded by an invisible force called the ________________
_______________

2. The north pole of one magnet will be attracted to the ______ pole of another
magnet.

3. The poles of the earth can move. True or False?

4. In the far north, radiation from the sun is reflected off the earth's magnetic field
and creates patterns of colors. This effect is known as the ___________
________________

5. A nail is normally not magnetized. How can you magnetize it?