Earth's Magnetic Field

Did you know Earth is like a giant magnet? It is surrounded by a magnetic field, just like the one around a bar magnet.

If you hang a bar magnet from a string, it aligns itself with Earth's magnetic field, pointing north and south.

This magnetic field is created by the electric currents generated due to the movement of molten metal in Earth's outer core.

It has two poles, the North and the South Magnetic Pole, which don't perfectly match the geographic poles.

This magnetic field extends several thousands of kilometers into space, forming a protective bubble called the magnetosphere. It shields us from harmful radiation from the Sun.

Interestingly, Earth's magnetic field has flipped many times throughout its history. This means the North Magnetic Pole became the South Magnetic Pole, and vice versa.

This is called magnetic reversal, a process driven by changes in molten iron flow within Earth's outer core.

A compass uses Earth's magnetic field to navigate by aligning its needle with the magnetic field, an invisible force that guides your journey.