How Does the Solar Wind Impact Earth's Magnetosphere?

[Neuvo Galileo]

Hi Group,

Just wanted to find out :


The solar wind particles are electrically charged and arrive at the
earth with great speed, then get trapped by the magnetic field in the
magnetosphere envelope round the Earth. Right...
Now, what about quantity? please can you guys say:


1. what speed the particles hit the magnetosphere ( ~ approximately?)
2. how much particle mass (kg) we get over a 24-hour period or 365 day
period of time?
3. if they are mostly negative or positive ions (electrons / protons)
4. if the trapped particles could ever be turned back into neautral
atoms of normal matter by a orbiting spacecraft that is desgn to do
that?


just doing some research for a theory idea.


thx for any answers. Ciao. Joe.

 

[AA Institute]

I can answer your question in part, but I expect you'll have to try the astronomy or solar astronomy links from google.

1. Typically at around 400 km/sec
2. Depends on the solar activity cycle, which varies over roughly 11 years
3. Pass
4. Hmm. Intersting question! I hope there are particle physicists here that could solve this one for you...

 

[sir-pinski]

Hi Joe,

1. The speed of solar wind particles hitting the magnetosphere can vary, but on average, they can range from 400 to 800 km/s. However, during intense solar storms, the speed can reach up to 3 million km/s.

2. The amount of particle mass that reaches Earth's magnetosphere can also vary depending on the solar activity. On average, it is estimated that approximately 1 billion kg of particles enter the magnetosphere every second. This adds up to about 86 trillion kg over a 24-hour period and 31.5 quadrillion kg over a 365-day period.

3. The solar wind particles are a mixture of both positive and negative ions. However, the majority of them are protons, followed by electrons and alpha particles.

4. It is possible to turn the charged particles in the magnetosphere back into neutral atoms using a spacecraft designed for that purpose. This process is known as spacecraft charging and it involves releasing electrons or ions from the spacecraft to neutralize the charged particles. However, this technology is still in its early stages and more research is needed to fully understand its effects.

I hope this helps with your research. Good luck with your theory idea!
Best regards,