The Universe’s Biggest Magnets
Most recent answer: 10/22/2007
Q:
WHAT IS THE TYPICAL MAGNETIC FIELD PREDICTED FOR THE SURFACE OF A NEUTRON STAR?
- JENNIFER IGLESIAS (age 18)
KILLEEN HIGH SCHOOL, KILLEEN, TX, BELL
- JENNIFER IGLESIAS (age 18)
KILLEEN HIGH SCHOOL, KILLEEN, TX, BELL
A:
Jennifer -
Neutron stars have the strongest magnetic fields of any stars known. Relatively weak ones have magnetic fields strengths of about 10^8 G and strong ones can be as high as 10^12 G. In fact, one group of scientists has recently discovered a young neutron star with a magnetic field strength of 8*10^14 G! To give you a little bit of perspective, the Earth’s magnetic field (by which we orient our compasses) has a strength of only 1 G, and very few scientists have been able to make fields stronger than 10^6 G. For more information, check out this .
-Tamara
Neutron stars have the strongest magnetic fields of any stars known. Relatively weak ones have magnetic fields strengths of about 10^8 G and strong ones can be as high as 10^12 G. In fact, one group of scientists has recently discovered a young neutron star with a magnetic field strength of 8*10^14 G! To give you a little bit of perspective, the Earth’s magnetic field (by which we orient our compasses) has a strength of only 1 G, and very few scientists have been able to make fields stronger than 10^6 G. For more information, check out this .
-Tamara
(published on 10/22/2007)