Final answer:
The Earth's magnetic field is generated by electric currents produced by the flow of liquid metals in the planet's liquid outer core, causing a dynamic magnetosphere that is also influenced by the solar wind.
Step-by-step explanation:
The source of Earth's magnetic field is primarily the result of convection in Earth's liquid outer core. Flowing liquid metals in the outer core, comprising mostly iron and nickel, generate electric currents. These electric currents, in turn, create a magnetic field around our planet.
The geographic north pole is not aligned with the magnetic north pole, and as such, there is an approximately 11.5° difference between them. Moreover, the Earth's magnetic field also impacts the magnetosphere, which is stretched by the solar wind and can extend significant distances from Earth, trapping charged particles emitted by the Sun.
A notable phenomenon associated with Earth's magnetic field are the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis, more commonly known as the Northern and Southern Lights. Furthermore, Earth's ability to sustain a magnetic field is due to its metallic core, since metals like iron are magnetic. This stands in contrast to the Moon, which lacks a global magnetic field, but has magnetized patches indicating it may have had a molten metallic core in the past.