How far is the magnetopause?

(60 miles), is called the magnetopause and marks the outer boundary of the magnetosphere. The lower boundary of the magnetosphere is several hundred kilometres above the Earth’s surface.

What is the boundary of magnetosphere?

The magnetopause is the boundary of the magnetosphere (analogous to terminology for the lower atmosphere). It separates the solar-wind plasma and the IMF from the geomagnetic field and plasma of primarily terrestrial origin. This boundary was first proposed by Chapman and Ferraro [1931].

What is Earth’s magnetosphere?

A magnetosphere is that area of space, around a planet, that is controlled by the planet’s magnetic field. The shape of the Earth’s magnetosphere is the direct result of being blasted by solar wind. The solar wind compresses its sunward side to a distance of only 6 to 10 times the radius of the Earth.

What is the name of the boundary that separates Earth’s magnetosphere from the solar wind how would you tell when you crossed this boundary?

The magnetic boundary between the Earth’s field and the solar wind, named the magnetopause, has a bullet-shaped front, gradually changing into a cylinder. Its cross-section is approximately circular.

Do all planets have Magnetospheres?

Magnetospheres — the magnetic fields around most planets — exist throughout our solar system. But not all magnetospheres are created equal: Venus and Mars do not have magnetospheres at all, while the other planets — and one moon — have ones that are surprisingly different.

How does a magnetopause work?

The magnetopause is the area of the magnetosphere wherein the pressure from the planetary magnetic field is balanced with the pressure from the solar wind. It is the convergence of the shocked solar wind from the magnetosheath with the magnetic field of the object and plasma from the magnetosphere.

How do you calculate magnetic pressure?

We have a simple expression for magnetic pressure P= B(square)/2μ0.

How far is the Van Allen Belt?

The innermost Van Allen belt sits somewhere between 400 to 6,000 miles above the surface of our planet. Even if the innermost belt is at its closest, the ISS (and the space shuttle in its day) are more than 100 miles away from the Van Allen Belts.

Why doesn’t Mars have a magnetic field?

Unlike the Earth, Mars has no inner dynamo to create a major global magnetic field. As magnetic field lines cannot pass through electrically conductive objects (such as Mars), they drape themselves around the planet creating a magnetosphere, even if the planet does not necessarily have a global magnetic field.

Why does Earth have a magnetic field?

Scientists know that today the Earth’s magnetic field is powered by the solidification of the planet’s liquid iron core. The cooling and crystallization of the core stirs up the surrounding liquid iron, creating powerful electric currents that generate a magnetic field stretching far out into space.

Where is a magnet’s force strongest?

The magnetic field generated by any magnet is always strongest at either pole. The magnetic force is equally as strong at both the north and south pole.

What is the distance from Earth to the magnetopause?

The distance from Earth to the subsolar magnetopause varies over time due to solar activity, but typical distances range from 6 – 15 R ⊕ {\\displaystyle _{\\oplus }} .

How often does the nose of the magnetopause expand?

These, though, are just averages: the pressure of the solar wind rises and falls, and as it does, the magnetopause shrinks or expands. For instance, when the boundary is hit by a fast flow from a coronal mass ejection, the “nose” is pushed in, occasionally (a few times a year, usually) even past the synchronous orbit at 6.6 R E.

Where are the field lines located in the magnetopause?

It follows that near the magnetopause, field lines located equatorward of the cusp are slanted northward and point away from the Sun, while lines tailward of the cusp slant southward and point towards the Sun.

How is the magnetopause similar to a flat plate?

The configuration equivalent to a flat, infinitely conductive plate is achieved by placing an image dipole (green arrow at left of schematic) at twice the distance from the planet’s dipole to the magnetopause along the planet-Sun line.