Earth's Magnetic Field: Why Doesn't It Lose Its Properties?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the nature of Earth's magnetic field and why it retains its magnetic properties despite the high temperatures in its core, which exceed the Curie point for iron and nickel. Participants explore the mechanisms behind magnetic fields, including the role of electric currents and the intrinsic properties of materials.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions why the Earth does not lose its magnetic properties at high core temperatures, referencing the Curie point for iron and nickel.
  • Another participant asserts that all magnetic fields arise from electric currents, suggesting a link to the Earth's magnetic field.
  • A participant raises a query about the generation of magnetic fields in copper coils, noting that copper lacks a Curie temperature.
  • Concerns are expressed regarding the exclusion of permanently magnetized materials from the discussion, emphasizing the importance of the electron's magnetic moment as an intrinsic property.
  • Further elaboration is provided on the gyrofactor related to intrinsic magnetization of electrons, contrasting it with magnetization due to currents.
  • Clarification is sought regarding the interpretation of previous contributions, particularly concerning the nature of magnetic fields in permanent magnets.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of magnetic fields, particularly regarding the role of electric currents and the properties of permanent magnets. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives presented.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding assumptions about the nature of magnetic fields, the definitions of terms like "all," and the implications of the Curie point in the context of Earth's magnetic field.

Luiz Felipe Ramos
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
We know that when a magnet is exposed to high temperatures, it loses its magnetic properties. Why then does the Earth's magnetic field behave differently? That is, why doesn't the Earth lose its magnetic properties? According to BBC News Brasil, the core temperature is around 6000 ° C, higher than the Curie point for iron and nickel components.

Attachment:

https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/noticias/2013/04/130428_terra_temperatura_nucleo_sol_rw - Access date: 07/02/2021.

Thanks for listening!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
How can there be a magnetic field from a copper coil when copper doesn't even have a Curie temperature?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: jim mcnamara, nasu, Luiz Felipe Ramos and 1 other person
PeroK said:
All magnetic fields are caused by electric currents, of one form or another.
I think magnetic fields from permanently magnetized materials should be excluded. Yes, one can use magnetization currents to model such fields but one has to be careful not to take this idea literally. My concern is that one might lose sight of the magnetic moment of the electron as one of its intrinsic properties.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Luiz Felipe Ramos and vanhees71
kuruman said:
I think magnetic fields from permanently magnetized materials should be excluded. Yes, one can use magnetization currents to model such fields but one has to be careful not to take this idea literally. My concern is that one might lose sight of the magnetic moment of the electron as one of its intrinsic properties.

You quoted @PeroK

But I don't understand if you are arguing against his link ( which is appropriate for the thread) or what your point is ?
 
kuruman said:
I think magnetic fields from permanently magnetized materials should be excluded. Yes, one can use magnetization currents to model such fields but one has to be careful not to take this idea literally. My concern is that one might lose sight of the magnetic moment of the electron as one of its intrinsic properties.
That's underlined by the fact that the gyrofactor is around ##2## for the intrinsic magnetization of the electron due to its spin (which is a result of minimal coupling of the em. field and can be derived both within relativistic (Dirac equation) and non-relativistic (Pauli equation) when the "minimal coupling" is done right ;-)).

For a magnetization due to a current the gyro factor is 1.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Luiz Felipe Ramos
davenn said:
You quoted @PeroK
But I don't understand if you are arguing against his link ( which is appropriate for the thread) or what your point is ?
I was not arguing against the link. I was trying to clarify to OP that, in a permanent magnet below the Curie point, the existing magnetic field is not generated by currents of the charge transport variety. My objection was to the sweeping use of "all" as in "All magnetic fields are caused by electric currents".
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: vanhees71 and Charles Link

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 44 ·
2
Replies
44
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
6K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
7K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
5K
Replies
16
Views
10K