Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Karen W. on 15/11/2007 08:51:28
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What would happen to the magnetic poles of a planet if the electron flow from the sun
were Drastically disrupted or stopped for a very long period of time?
What would happen? How, do sun spots come in to the picture here or can they?
If there were a interruption, exactly what symptoms would we see first and what
would be the out come to the planet and the magnetic poles where the disruption takes
place?
I understand that the flows of the electrons have a direct effect on the magnetic
fields of a planet which then effects the attractions of the electrons from the sun,
is this right?
If so How does this have an effect on the fission process? Does this take place at the
center for any planet that may have this process happening.
Now Can someone first explain what is meant by the FISSION process? Somewhere I
missed where this takes place I am assumning the center of the planets.. but I am not
sure... HEE HEE.. I have lost my way! Please redirect me gently?
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There are a few questions there Karen:
The sun is throwing out both electrons (negative) and protons, Helium nuclei etc (all positively charged) in the form of the solar wind, sometimes this is stronger and others weaker. These moving charged particles tend to follow magnetic field lines so when they hit the earth's magnetic field they follow it down to the north or south pole and hit the atmosphere creating Aurorae (nothern lights)
These moving charged particles are an electric current, and electric currents create magnetic fields, so they will alter the shape of the earth's magnetic field, especially further away from the surface.
Sun spots are involved because they are associated with solar flares and coronal mass ejections which throw particularly concentrated high powered bits of solar wind at us, which can damage satellites create, great arororae, and the associated magnetic fields can even knock out power grids.
This will all have nothing to do with fission which is the splitting of heavy atoms into smaller ones releasing energy, like in a nuclear reactor.
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Yeah sorry I read this whole page or two on magnetic fields and the larger gas planets in regards to Neil's question, but then I was confused as it went over my head.. So My questions were not in order only in the order I could think them! which was all mixed up!
The sun is throwing out both electrons (negative) and protons, Helium nuclei etc (all positively charged) in the form of the solar wind, sometimes this is stronger and others weaker. These moving charged particles tend to follow magnetic field lines so when they hit the earth's magnetic field they follow it down to the north or south pole and hit the atmosphere creating Aurorae (northern lights)
Well thats a cool plus, but are their negative results also?
These moving charged particles are an electric current, and electric currents create magnetic fields, so they will alter the shape of the earth's magnetic field, especially further away from the surface.
OK so if this magnetic field is broken for a long time or destroyed, what would happen???
Sun spots are involved because they are associated with solar flares and coronal mass ejections which throw particularly concentrated high powered bits of solar wind at us, which can damage satellites create, great arororae, and the associated magnetic fields can even knock out power grids.
What is the coronal mass ejections in layman turns.. I get what they do but what are they? I have tried to record a show from my satellite and ran into a period where the tape was blank and found out from the satallite company that they had had solar flares all day which interrupted the broadcast of the movies I was attempting to copy!.. LOl This was some years back..
The page I had been reading was saying if there was and interruption of this electron flow that it would cause a fission to happen in the center, problem is I did not know what the center was the planets effected by the interruption or what.. I will try to find it! and let you see it. I did not understand it!
Thanks Dave...