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Measuring Earth's Magnetic Anomalies
Name: Zach H.
Status: Student
Grade: 9-12
Location: Texas
Country: United States
Date: January 2007
Question:
How can you make observations of local anomalies in
the earth's magnetic field?
Replies:
One needs a magnetometer. I have seen plans for simple magnetometers in
Scientific American and similar publications. Popular electronic and
mechanical magazines as well as student/teacher science magazines are
also good places research if you want to make one for yourself. I just
entered "magnetometer plans" into my favorite search engine and got a
number of hits.
Variations in the earth's field will occur both during the day if the
sensor is not moved, or from place to place when you move the
magnetometer around the countryside.
Bob Avakian
Oklahoma State University
Earth scientists, geologists, etc. measure the earth's magnetic
field with a magnetometer, which is fundamentally a compass mounted
on pivots so that measures the field's direction at a given point,
that is at a given longitude, latitude, altitude. The "strength" of
the field is determined from the "strength" of the pull on the
sensor at a given point. In modern instruments the sensors are
electronic of course, but the principles are the same. The results
are then superimposed on a map using computer software (and probably
a GPS). There are "physics lab" units available from science
suppliers, such as Pasco Inc., but I do not know how easy it would
be to actually make a map with that demonstration apparatus.
Vince Calder
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Update: June 2012
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