Magnetic Poles
Kiwi-kiwi
31-01-2006, 22:57
Why are the magnetic poles close to the geographic poles?
Lunatic Goofballs
31-01-2006, 23:03
Why are the magnetic poles close to the geographic poles?
They like to keep in touch. :)
Actually, it's a side-effect of the earth's rotation slightly flattening the planet. However, it is important to note that the magnetic poles are drifting and as they drift further away from the geographic poles, there will come a time when they will reverse. Magnetic South will become North and vice-versa.
Silly planet. :)
Jiang Chow Li
31-01-2006, 23:03
the earth is round. there is no top or bottom, therefore the geographic poles do not exist physically. they are only based on the magnetic poles.
They like to keep in touch. :)
Actually, it's a side-effect of the earth's rotation slightly flattening the planet. However, it is important to note that the magnetic poles are drifting and as they drift further away from the geographic poles, there will come a time when they will reverse. Magnetic South will become North and vice-versa.
Silly planet. :)
See? And I bet you thought you'd never have a use for that information when you learned it!
Eutrusca
31-01-2006, 23:06
the earth is round. there is no top or bottom, therefore the geographic poles do not exist physically. they are only based on the magnetic poles.
Uh ... not quite accurate. The geographic poles are the points on the surface of the earth through which the rotational axis of the planet runs.
Kiwi-kiwi
31-01-2006, 23:09
They like to keep in touch. :)
Actually, it's a side-effect of the earth's rotation slightly flattening the planet. However, it is important to note that the magnetic poles are drifting and as they drift further away from the geographic poles, there will come a time when they will reverse. Magnetic South will become North and vice-versa.
Silly planet. :)
So in most planets would you expect the magnetic poles to be near the geographic poles?
So in most planets would you expect the magnetic poles to be near the geographic poles?If the inner workings of the planet is similar.
But don't expect it to hold for gas giants like Jupiter. (I think it may actually have more than two poles, although I'm not sure.)
Lunatic Goofballs
31-01-2006, 23:21
So in most planets would you expect the magnetic poles to be near the geographic poles?
The axis of rotation, yes. The likelihood of that being true increases with the speed of that rotation. A faster rotating world with a magnetic field would be more likely to have it's magnetic poles near the geographic axis of rotation than a slower rotating world.
Lunatic Goofballs
31-01-2006, 23:23
If the inner workings of the planet is similar.
But don't expect it to hold for gas giants like Jupiter. (I think it may actually have more than two poles, although I'm not sure.)
It should still apply...assuming the world has a magnetic field. Not every planet in the solar system has a detectable field.
Free Mercantile States
31-01-2006, 23:36
It's the axis of rotation. In electromagnetism, rotation of an active body gives rise to fields like the Earth's, following the axis of rotation. It's also how turbines, motors, and dynamos work.
Kiwi-kiwi
31-01-2006, 23:37
That's all I really wanted to know. Thankyou very much, everyone!