Geomagnetism - Key terms
In physics and other sciences, "to conserve" something means "to result in no net loss of" that particular component. It is possible that within a given system the component may change form or position, but as long as the net value of the component remains the same, it has been conserved.
A pair of equal and opposite electric charges, or an entire body having the characteristics of a dipole—for instance, a magnet with north and south poles.
A form of energy with electric and magnetic components that travels in waves.
The total force on an electrically charged particle, which is a combination of forces due to electric and magnetic fields around the particle. Electromagnetic force reflects electromagnetic interaction, one of the four fundamental interactions in nature.
A negatively charged particle in an atom, which spins around the nucleus.
A substance made up of only one kind of atom. Unlike compounds, elements cannot be broken chemically into other substances.
A region of space in which it is possible to define the physical properties of each point in the region at any given moment in time.
The basic mode by which particles interact. There are four known fundamental interactions in nature: gravitational, electromagnetic, strong nuclear, and weaknuclear.
A term referring to the magnetic properties of Earth as a wholerather than those possessed by a single object or place on Earth.
The angle between magnetic north and geographic north.
An area surrounding Earth, reaching far beyond the atmosphere, in which ionized particles(i.e., ones that have lost or gained electrons so as to acquire a net electric charge) are affected by Earth's magnetic field.
An area of historical geology devoted to studying the direction and intensity of magnetic fields in the past, as discerned from the residual magnetization of rocks.
Position in a field, such as a gravitational force field.
A stream of particles continually emanating from the Sun and moving outward through the solar system.
Any set of interactions that can be set apart mentally from the rest of the universe for the purposes of study, observation, and measurement.