This is a drawing a magnetic field.
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The Magnetic Field
The force of magnetism causes material to point along the direction the magnetic force points. Here's another picture of how this works.
This picture shows where the magnetic poles of the Earth are to be found. The picture also shows that these poles drift over the surface of the Earth over time.
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You probably have magnets on your refrigerator holding up some of your artwork or a photograph of a friend or family. Did you know that it is magnetic fields (which all magnets have) that make sunspots
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Some particles do move along the field lines of the Earth. They bounce back and forth from one pole of the Earth to the other.
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Magnetic fields can cause particles to move in these three ways: Spiral Motion Bounce Motion Drift Motion
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Sometimes protons and electrons are forced to spiral around magnetic field lines. Electrons cirle the field line in one direction, protons in the opposite direction.
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Scientists have found that ancient Mars was similar to Earth! Magnetic field lines flow from the north pole to the south, but sometimes they switch. When scientists look at the lines, they can see how
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Unlike the Earth, which has a protective shield around it called the magnetosphere, the surface of the moon is not protected from the solar wind. This picture shows the magnetosphere surrounding the Earth,
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With Explore the Planets, investigate the planets, their moons, and understand the processes that shape them. By G. Jeffrey Taylor, Ph.D. See our DVD collection.
