Does Earth Have a Magnetic Field and Why Is It Important?

AI Thread Summary
The Earth's magnetic field is primarily explained by the self-exciting dynamo theory, which suggests that the rotation of the Earth induces electrical currents in its molten iron core. This process generates a magnetic field, although it is relatively weak at about 0.5 gauss. Some participants express skepticism about the iron theory, arguing it doesn't account for the gravitational field. The discussion also touches on the implications of the magnetic field's potential loss, noting that while it could lead to increased cancer risk, gravity would still keep people grounded. Understanding the origins and interactions of both magnetic and gravitational fields remains a topic of interest.
deda
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How come the Earth has magnetic field?
 
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I believe that current theories have to do with motion within the Earth's molton core.
 
May be it was found by the nature of the iron made Magnets
 
Originally posted by deda
How come the Earth has magnetic field?

The most widely accepted theory that explains this is called the self-exciting dynamo theory. It postulates that the Earth rotating in its' magnetic field induces a current within the core. The composition of the core has large amounts of iron in it. Because the iron is hot, being heated way above the curie temperature (which is about 760° C for iron) it can't be magnetized, but since a current flows, inevitably a magnetic field must coexist. I suppose this is the reason why the Earth's magnetic field is weak being about 0.5 gauss (0.00005 tesla).

I don't know, the theory doesn't seem to explain the initial origin of this magnetic field, rather just how it lives.

You can do a google search on the subject and probably find out more.
 


Originally posted by Quasaire
The most widely accepted theory that explains this is called the self-exciting dynamo theory. It postulates that the Earth rotating in its' magnetic field induces a current within the core. The composition of the core has large amounts of iron in it. Because the iron is hot, being heated way above the curie temperature (which is about 760° C for iron) it can't be magnetized, but since a current flows, inevitably a magnetic field must coexist. I suppose this is the reason why the Earth's magnetic field is weak being about 0.5 gauss (0.00005 tesla).

I don't know, the theory doesn't seem to explain the initial origin of this magnetic field, rather just how it lives.

You can do a google search on the subject and probably find out more.


Aha...only Iron theory can't be acceptable...because it doesn't explain gravitational field :frown:
 


Originally posted by Moni
Aha...only Iron theory can't be acceptable...because it doesn't explain gravitational field :frown:

Last I heard iron had mass.
 


Originally posted by Chemicalsuperfreak
Last I heard iron had mass.

Hu! But I wanted to tell that...why we are on Earth for it's magnetic field or gravitational field ?
 


Originally posted by Moni
Hu! But I wanted to tell that...why we are on Earth for it's magnetic field or gravitational field ?

You're asking why we don't float off? The gravitational field. If the magnetic field suddenly shut off we'd be fine except some people would get lost and maybe we'd have to worry more about getting cancer.
 


Originally posted by Chemicalsuperfreak
You're asking why we don't float off? The gravitational field. If the magnetic field suddenly shut off we'd be fine except some people would get lost and maybe we'd have to worry more about getting cancer.

Hah! You are right? But is there is quetion about Magnetic Field then we must know where the Gravitational field comes from ?
 
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