Magnetic Fields EQ: How does the Earth’s magnetic field compare to that of the fields that surround a magnet and an electromagnet? SPI

Answer these questions using your textbook… 1.What is a magnetic field? 2.Why are certain objects magnetic and others are not? What causes the difference and why? 3.What is a domain and how does it effect magnetism? 4.How can something be made magnetic? 5.What happens if a magnet is cut in half?

A magnetic field exists in the region around a magnet which magnetic forces can act.

Earth is like a giant magnet. You can think of the Earth as having a gigantic bar magnet buried inside. The poles of this imaginary magnet are located near Earth’s geographic poles.

How does a compass work? The Earth behaves as if it has a bar magnet running through its center. The point of a compass needle is attracted to the south pole of a magnet. Opposite poles of magnets attract each other. A compass needle points north because the magnetic pole of Earth that is closest to the geographic North Pole is a magnetic south.

If opposites attract, then you have to assume that the buried bar magnet is flipped. This would cause the north end of the compass needle to always point to the south end of the buried bar magnet.

Ever heard of an Aurora? Earth’s magnetic field plays a part in making auroras.

An aurora is formed when charged particles from the sun hit oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the air.

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