Magnetism and the Sun

The Magnetic Force

Is most easily described by its effects—it is easy to see iron objects react or outline lines of magnetic attraction.

Michael Faraday made reference to ’modified space’ --an area apparently affected by the magnetic force.

Magnetic field of bar magnet

Magnetic field of electromagnet

The present model

Suggests that (ferro) magnetism is related to the spin of valence electrons in elements such as iron, nickel and cobalt

The Earth’s magnetic field

Is believed to be caused by movement in the (liquid) outer core due to the spin of the earth.

The sun

Is not thought to have distinct metallic cores,

BUT…

…does rotate at different speeds at different “latitudes”

Matter making up the sun is in the PLASMA state--

Positive nuclei are separated from their negative

electrons

Here’s the wild side--

When electric particles flow through a circuit—they create a magnetic field

This was discovered

By accident, by Hans Christian Oersted in 1820

And described mathematically

by Andre-Marie Ampere the same year

(Ampere’s Cirucuital Law)

An electric current (I) flowing through a circuit produces a magnetic field (B)

This means that as charged particles move throughout the sun

They create MANY magnetic fields

What, me worry?