Final answer:
Earth's magnetic field is produced by the movement of liquid metal in the outer core, which generates electric currents. The Earth behaves like a giant bar magnet with its magnetic field approximately aligned with the rotational poles. The magnetosphere shields the planet, with auroras occurring near the poles where charged particles enter the atmosphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
Scientists believe that Earth's magnetic field is produced by the movement of liquid metal in the planet's outer core. This flowing liquid metal is responsible for generating electrical currents, which in turn create the magnetic field. The Earth itself behaves similarly to a large bar magnet with a magnetic field aligned approximately with its rotational poles. Metals such as iron within the core are key to this process because they are magnetic, which is essential for the generation of the planet's magnetism.
The Earth's magnetic poles are not equivalent to its geographical poles. They are approximately 11.5° apart, and the magnetic poles can even shift slightly over time. Moreover, the magnetosphere, which is the area influenced by Earth's magnetic field, protects the planet by trapping charged particles from space, except near the magnetic poles, where phenomena like the auroras occur due to these particles colliding with the atmosphere at high velocities.
Overall, the continuous movement of metallic liquid in Earth's core is what sustains the magnetic field, which has critical implications for life by protecting the planet from solar and cosmic radiation.