Earth’s magnetosphere is the area around the Earth where the geomagnetic field stretches out into space. Consider the following statements regarding magnetosphere.
1) It is uneven in shape as it stretches largely towards the Sun because of Sun’s magnetic field.
2) Solar winds can have influence on the Earth’s magnetosphere.
3) This sphere deflects the charged particles that approach the Earth’s surface.
Choose the correct statement/s from the following codes.
1, 2 only.
2, 3 only.
1, 3 only.
All the above.
Explanation:
First statement is wrong because the magnetosphere stretches away from the Sun and nottowards the Sun.The solar wind is a stream of plasma released from the upper atmosphere of the Sun. Itconsists of mostly electrons, protons and alpha particles with energies usually between 1.5and 10 keV.As the solar wind approaches a planet that has a well-developed magnetic field (such asEarth, Jupiter and Saturn), the particles are deflected by the Lorentz force. This region,known as the magnetosphere, causes the particles to travel around the planet rather thanbombarding the atmosphere or surface. The magnetosphere is roughly shaped likea hemisphere on the side facing the Sun, then is drawn out in a long wake on the oppositeside. The boundary of this region is called the magnetopause, and some of the particles areable to penetrate the magnetosphere through this region by partial reconnection of themagnetic field lines.
First statement is wrong because the magnetosphere stretches away from the Sun and nottowards the Sun.The solar wind is a stream of plasma released from the upper atmosphere of the Sun. Itconsists of mostly electrons, protons and alpha particles with energies usually between 1.5and 10 keV.As the solar wind approaches a planet that has a well-developed magnetic field (such asEarth, Jupiter and Saturn), the particles are deflected by the Lorentz force. This region,known as the magnetosphere, causes the particles to travel around the planet rather thanbombarding the atmosphere or surface. The magnetosphere is roughly shaped likea hemisphere on the side facing the Sun, then is drawn out in a long wake on the oppositeside. The boundary of this region is called the magnetopause, and some of the particles areable to penetrate the magnetosphere through this region by partial reconnection of themagnetic field lines.