Magnetic field

Magnetic Fields, resulting from the flow of electrons in metal, impose an action-at-a-distance force on other charged particles nearby. This means that charged metals respond to magnetic fields by changing direction, or becoming attracted to or repelled from the field.

Scientific Facts

Magnetic fields, also known as B-fields, are force fields that can be explained by relativistic effects of electric currents. Magnetic fields only exert a force on moving charges. According to the "right hand rule," using your right hand to indicate the direction of current, the curl of the remaining fingers indicates the magnetic field, which is always perpendicular to the current, and running in the indicated.

Earth's Magnetic Field

The magnetic field of Earth is directional nearly north-to-south, although slightly askance, meaning that "magnetic north" is not the same as "true north," and a person who is orienteering must take into account this change of declination, although it is truly only marginally relevant, unless you are close to either pole. This field has been decaying at a rapid rate of about about 5% per century, which casts doubt on the theory that the Earth is billions of years old. This decay suggests that, at some point, the poles will invert.

The View of "Answers in Genesis"

Scientists have speculated about the history of Earth's magnetic field. One group that makes use of the Bible as a resource for science suggests that the history of the Earth's magnetic field is as depicted to the right.