The Earth’s Magnetic Field

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The Earth’s Magnetic Field
Geographic North Pole Vs. Magnetic North Pole
Meaning of True North

The Earth behaves like a giant magnet with its South Pole pointing towards the Geographical North Pole and the North Pole pointing towards the Geographical South Pole. It produces a magnetic field which is a weak field but is strong enough to cause a compass needle to set in the North-South direction.

The magnetic field is generated by the movement of molten iron and nickel in the Earth’s outer core, as the Earth spins, which creates electric currents.

The axis of the Earth’s magnetic field is tilted at an angle of about 11° relative to the Earth’s rotational axis or geographical axis as shown above.

Geographic North Pole Vs. Magnetic North Pole:

Geographic North Pole:	Magnetic North Pole:
1. The Geographic North Pole is the end of the Earth’s rotation axis and is the North on geographic maps.	The Magnetic North Pole is the point where the lines of force of the Earth’s magnetic field converges.
2. A compass does not always point to the Geographic North Pole.	A compass needle will point to the the direction of the Magnetic North Pole.
3. The Earth’s Geographic North Pole remains fixed.	The Earth’s Magnetic North Pole is changing every day because of the hot, liquid metal that surrounds the inner core.
4. Geographic North and South poles are determined by the earth’s spin.	Magnetic North is determined by the direction a compass points.

True north is the direction that points directly towards the Geographic North Pole.

SS3: PHYSICS - 2ND TERM

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The Earth’s Magnetic Field

Topic Content:

Geographic North Pole Vs. Magnetic North Pole: