Name _______ KEY __________________________________ Date _________ Period ______
Earth’s Magnetic Field
1.
Is Earth’s magnetic north pole at its geographic north pole? Explain.
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2.
How does a compass respond when it is placed in the magnetic field of a bar magnet?
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3.
Magnetic declination is the angular difference between the magnetic north and
geographic north from that location.
What has happened to the strength and location of Earth’s magnetic field in the past?
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7.
A compass will point north because it is attracted to the south pole of earth’s
magnetic field. The geographic north pole is actually a south magnetic pole.
What is magnetic declination?
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6.
Earth’s magnetism is the result of its liquid iron-nickel outer core.
Why does a compass point north? What polarity is the North Pole?
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5.
The compass will be attracted or repelled by the magnet depending on which
pole it is facing.
What is the cause of Earth’s magnetism?
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4.
Earth’s magnetic north pole is actually geographically south. This explains why
the north pole of the compass is attracted to geographic north.
The magnetic field has reversed several times in Earth’s history. The field has
also weakened on occasion.
Suppose Earth’s magnetic field were to change so it looks like the picture to the right. If
you stand at the marked point, in which direction will your compass needle point? What
is the approximate magnetic declination at this point?