Earth's Magnetic Poles: Why Do They Not Correspond?

[MartinV05]

Why are Earth's magnetic poles not corresponding with the rotation axis? And the spin direction is opposite of the right hand rule. Probably the actual spin and the magnetic influence have something in common, but can someone tell me what's happening in this spinning process? Thanks!

 

[Simon Bridge]

Why are Earth's magnetic poles not corresponding with the rotation axis?

Why should they? They are different phenomena.

To see how the Earth has a magnetic field at all, look up "geomagnetic dynamo".

 

[davenn]

Why should they? They are different phenomena.

To see how the Earth has a magnetic field at all, look up "geomagnetic dynamo".

and also whilst you are doing that, note the difference in the locations of the north and south magnetic poles compared to the geographic north and south poles :)

cheers
Dave

 

[MartinV05]

I know that the geographic poles and the magnetic ones are not the same, but it somehow seemed possible to me that the rotation is dependent of the magnetic field (or the other way around).

 

[sophiecentaur]

I know that the geographic poles and the magnetic ones are not the same, but it somehow seemed possible to me that the rotation is dependent of the magnetic field (or the other way around).

Why not look up Geomagnetic Dynamo as suggested?

 

[Simon Bridge]

A solid rotating sphere with a net charge has a magnetic field that lines up with the rotation axis.
The Earth is not solid all the way through and does not carry much of a net charge to speak of - so we would not expect the same mechanisms to produce the Earth's magnetic field.

Actually, it's a better question to ask why the magnetic field lines up with the rotation poles as well as they do.
The "geomagnetic dynamo" stuff explains this. I could just summarize it for you here - but that's a lot of typing I don't need to do.

You may like to also look up the "Mars magnetic field".