Question

1. Explain how the magnetosphere of Saturn works. How does it compare with Earth's? How is it similar and different? Is it smaller or bigger and by how much? Use diagrams to help illustrate your explanations.

Answer 1

The magnetosphere of Saturn is aligned in the direction of the planet's rotation. This is where it differs significantly from the Earth. The entire magnetosphere is a cavity that is created in the solar wind by the internally generated magnetic field.

Earth's magnetic field is generated by the rotation of the molten core of the planet.

Pioneer 11 spacecraft detected the Saturn's magnetosphere. The magnetosphere and solar wind meet nearly at 20 saturn radii. and the magnetotail stretches several hundred saturn radii in the night side.

It is to be noted that the interplanetary magnetic field at this distances is also very small.

The typical field strength of Saturn magnetosphere is of the order of 20-22 micro tesla. The dipole tilt is less than 0.5 degrees.

It is significantly larger than the strength of interplanetary magnetic field, which is roughly half a nano tesla.

It is smaller than the earth's magnetic field. The field strength of earth's magnetic field is typically of the order of 50 micro tesla. so we can say the saturns' magnetic field is roughly half of earth's field.