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MAGNETOSPHERE

Magnetosphere allows you to collect data to answer the question, "Has there been a measurable disturbance in the Earth's magnetic field?"

Throughout the Magnetosphere section the terms storm, geomagnetic storm or magnetic storm will be used to indicate a disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field. Scientists actually use two terms – storm and substorm – to describe magnetic disturbances. Storms are generally long term events that last from a few hours to a few days. Substorms usually only last a half hour or so. Storms are often made up of many substorms, although substorms can occur individually. In this section the word ‘storm’ will be used to include both storm and substorm type disturbances.

While participating in the Magnetosphere you may think of other questions that you wish to investigate. For instance, what is the magnetosphere? Can you see it? Does it have a shape? How big is it? Is it part of our atmosphere? Does space weather have an effect on it?

From Students:

Learn how to construct and collect data from an inexpensive yet highly sensitive soda bottle magnetometer that measures changes in the Earth's magnetic field.

From Observatories:

Ground-based professional observatories in North America and Europe provide near real time measurements of Earth's magnetic field. Find out how to get and interpret these data to determine whether a solar storm is passing.

From Satellites:

NASA satellites monitor space weather conditions around Earth. These satellites supply scientific data to study Earth's magnetosphere and warn scientists of space storms.

TEACHER'S NOTE

Students participating in the Magnetosphere play a critical role in the overall process of the Student Observation Network (S.O.N.). They may be among the first observers in S.O.N. to witness the effects of solar storms resulting from Space Weather - the change to our magnetosphere. By collecting and analyzing real-time data from student magnetometers, professional observatories, and NASA satellites, they can carry out the same duties as NASA researchers!

In Magnetosphere you will learn:

  1. how to instruct students in the construction of a simple device to measure changes in Earth's magnetic field,
  2. how to enable students to obtain and interpret data from ground-based professional observatories,
  3. how to enable students to obtain and interpret data from NASA satellites.

In addition, there are classroom-ready activities to help students to learn about magnetism, to develop operational definitions of magnetic field and magnetic poles, and to learn about the magnetic fields of the Earth and Sun. Additional science content is available in the Content Enhancement topics "Adventures in Geospace", "A Magnet in Space", and "The Earth's Magnetosphere".

ACTIVITIES

Most activities are in PDF format.

Basic Magnetism:

Earth's Magnetic Field:

Magnetic Storms:
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