A Moment of Science
In order to point at the poles your arms must not only point northward and southward, but downward.
Have you ever wondered why the magnetic fields change places?
Did you know that years and years ago the magnetic poles switched places?
The next time you long for the romance of the northern lights, switch on a fluorescent lamp! There may be less mystique, but the principle will be the same.
Science tells you that you weigh less standing on the equator than you do at the north pole. Learn more on this Moment of Science.
We will answer that question, with a question. How fast does the earth turn?
You’re a polar explorer and you’ve just reached the north pole. The huskies are yapping, the cameras are ready and you’re just about to unfurl the flag when, all of a sudden, the north pole becomes the south pole. Imagine your chagrin. Okay, so it doesn’t really happen that fast, but it’s true that in the past the earth’s magnetic poles have switched places. In fact, it seems to happen roughly every 250,000 years or so. How do we know this? Learn more on this Moment of Science.
Flying west to east is faster than flying east to west, but why? Learn more on this Moment of Science.
The Greeks had it figured out that the earth was round. How did they manage it? Learn more on this Moment of Science.
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