Post by indicolite on Jul 22, 2013 14:20:47 GMT -8
Dr. James McAllister, excerpt from Western Sandinho University talk
Electromagnetism, as we all know, is a fundamental force of nature, generated by the motion and interaction of charged particles. We harness the effects of this force every day, for lighting, electricity, navigation, and more. I would like to take this time to discuss magnetism - natural magnetism, and the various natural manifestations of it in the world around us.
All appearances of electromagnetism can be described in the term of a field, an area of effect that radiates out from one end of its source and back around to the other end. This can be demonstrated quite easily with a magnet and iron filings, in which the filings rearrange themselves to map out the field. However, less commonly known is that the earth itself is generating a magnetic field, formed by the rotational motion of the earth's metallic core, like a giant electromagnet. Obviously, this field is more powerful than anything man can generate, and it manifests itself in a variety of ways.
The most obvious is that large deposits of magnetic minerals are suspended in mid-air within the cores of the floating continents we are acquainted with - or at least, you should be, seeing as we're on one right now. (Laughter) These continents roughly follow field lines as the magnetic force travels from the north magnetic pole to the south magnetic pole, but as this field fluctuates due to anomalies within the earth itself, these current lines, as they're known, can carry fragments in all directions based on local conditions.
Additionally, rotational motion of magnetic currents caused by these fluctuations cause temporary strong accumulations of magnetic force or electricity, commonly referred to as magnetic storms. These are dangerous formations which follow along the currents, dissipating its energy as electrical discharges and exerting strong magnetic force in the surrounding area until conditions return to normal. As you can imagine this can be quite dangerous for aircraft within the area, and fortunately, the magnetic buildup gives operators a predictable signature by which they can be detected, reported and avoided. However, there is still a considerable amount of unpredictability regarding when these storms arise, and so they remain a danger to be avoided at all costs.
Electromagnetism, as we all know, is a fundamental force of nature, generated by the motion and interaction of charged particles. We harness the effects of this force every day, for lighting, electricity, navigation, and more. I would like to take this time to discuss magnetism - natural magnetism, and the various natural manifestations of it in the world around us.
All appearances of electromagnetism can be described in the term of a field, an area of effect that radiates out from one end of its source and back around to the other end. This can be demonstrated quite easily with a magnet and iron filings, in which the filings rearrange themselves to map out the field. However, less commonly known is that the earth itself is generating a magnetic field, formed by the rotational motion of the earth's metallic core, like a giant electromagnet. Obviously, this field is more powerful than anything man can generate, and it manifests itself in a variety of ways.
The most obvious is that large deposits of magnetic minerals are suspended in mid-air within the cores of the floating continents we are acquainted with - or at least, you should be, seeing as we're on one right now. (Laughter) These continents roughly follow field lines as the magnetic force travels from the north magnetic pole to the south magnetic pole, but as this field fluctuates due to anomalies within the earth itself, these current lines, as they're known, can carry fragments in all directions based on local conditions.
Additionally, rotational motion of magnetic currents caused by these fluctuations cause temporary strong accumulations of magnetic force or electricity, commonly referred to as magnetic storms. These are dangerous formations which follow along the currents, dissipating its energy as electrical discharges and exerting strong magnetic force in the surrounding area until conditions return to normal. As you can imagine this can be quite dangerous for aircraft within the area, and fortunately, the magnetic buildup gives operators a predictable signature by which they can be detected, reported and avoided. However, there is still a considerable amount of unpredictability regarding when these storms arise, and so they remain a danger to be avoided at all costs.
If you find yourself in, or about to be in, a magnetic storm and you cannot avoid it, the best thing you can do is keep a steady course, through the thinnest part of the storm. Aerocraft controls these days are required to have non-conductive coatings for this very reason, so if you're piloting, you should be safe. Likewise, if you are a passenger, there should be grips or handles where you can grip and keep yourself from being shocked. This is, however, assuming that the magnetic forces won't pull a wing off the plane, but if it is solidly built and the structural weak points are well-maintained, this probably should not happen. However, if you are operating a hydrogen-filled dirigible, electric discharges have been known to ignite the gas on rare occasions, primarily when the outer shell is not well-maintained. On the ground, you should likewise find a safe space away from large metal surfaces and wait for the storm to pass.
Are there any questions?
Are there any questions?