Final answer:
The Sun's magnetic field reverses every 11 years, coinciding with the sunspot cycle, and a full cycle takes approximately 22 years to complete. Magnetograms are used to study this phenomenon, and differential rotation on the Sun's surface influences the creation of magnetic loops and sunspot formation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Sun's magnetic field reverses its polarity approximately every 11 years, in alignment with the sunspot cycle. The sunspots are visual indicators of the Sun's magnetic activity, and their leading spots alternate in polarity with each sunspot cycle, essentially completing a full magnetic cycle over the span of two 11-year sunspot cycles. Researchers utilize tools like magnetograms to study the magnetic polarity of sunspots, which show areas of magnetism pointing toward or away from the Sun's core. However, the underlying causes of these magnetic field reversals, including the variations in the solar cycle length and phenomena like the Maunder Minimum, are still being investigated. Moreover, due to differential rotation, the magnetic fields on the Sun tend to wind up and form loops, contributing to the growth and decay of these magnetic fields and the occurrence of sunspots.