earth’s magnetic field and life. how is the sun harmful to humans? sun produces uv radiation,...

Earth’s Magnetic Field and Life

How is the sun harmful to humans?

Sun produces UV radiation, which cause sunburns and skin cancer

What protects us from UV radiation? Ozone Sunscreen Use Special Sunglasses Limit time out in the

sun

Is UV radiation the only danger that the sun poses to life on Earth?

No! The sun produces other harmful radiation besides UV. Some examples are:

Solar WindSolar FlaresSolar Particles- high levels can cause

radiation sickness Symptoms: loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea,

damage to cells and tissue = cancer/cataracts

Solar Wind

Consists of charged particles that stream off of the Sun in all directions at speeds of about 400 kilometers per second ( about 1 million miles per hour).

Solar Flare

Occurs when magnetic energy has built up in the solar atmosphere and then is suddenly released.

Energy released is the equivalent of 100-megaton hydrogen bombs exploding at the same time.

ANY GUESSES?

How are we protected from the bombardment of solar particles and radiation?

How is Earth protected from solar particles?

Earth’s Magnetic Field

How does Earth produce a magnetic field?

Its produced because of the liquid outer core, as the Earth rotates it causes the outer core to move around which generates electricity around the inner core

Magnet Activity

With your lab partner make predictions about these things on a separate sheet of paper:

What happens when you try to put like sides toward each other?

What happens when you try to put opposite sides together?

What pattern will the iron fillings make when sprinkled on magnet? (We will watch a video for this one; but still make a prediction)

Iron Fillings + Magnet = Outline of Magnetic Field

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgDYx3B8c_I

Where was it easiest for the iron fillings to touch the magnet? Poles of the magnet

Where is the Earth most vulnerable to solar wind and solar particles? At the North and South Poles Ex. The Northern Lights in Alaska is where solar

particles are entering Earth’s Atmosphere (Show video of Aura Borealis)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip2ZGND1I9Q&feature=youtu.be