In an electromagnetic wave, the electric and magnetic fields are always perpendicular to each other and to the direction of propagation. The electric field oscillates back and forth, and the magnetic field oscillates perpendicular to it. The two fields are constantly changing, but they are always in sync with each other.
The magnetic field is stronger at the poles because the Earth's magnetic field lines are concentrated there. The magnetic field lines are invisible, but they can be visualized by imagining iron filings sprinkled around a bar magnet. The filings will align themselves with the magnetic field lines, and they will be more densely packed near the poles, where the field is stronger.
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Earth's magnetic field lines
The Earth's magnetic field is generated by the movement of liquid iron in the Earth's outer core. The liquid iron acts like a giant electric current, and this current generates a magnetic field. The magnetic field is strongest at the poles because the liquid iron is moving most rapidly there.
The Earth's magnetic field is important for protecting us from the harmful radiation from the sun. The magnetic field deflects most of the charged particles from the sun, and this helps to protect the Earth's atmosphere and the living things on it.
They are only perpendicular in special cases, such as for a single plane electromagnetic wave or for the electromagnetic field in vacuum from the motion of a single point charge.In an electromagnetic wave the electric and magnetic field are mutually perpendicular. Both electric and magnetic fields are also perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave. The magnetic field of the electromagnetic wave is perpendicular to the electric field and has magnitude Brad = Erad/c in free space. For electromagnetic waves E and B are always perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the direction of propagation. The direction of propagation is the direction of E × B. Where B is the magnetic field vector and E is the electric field. the partial derivative of E with respect to time will be a vector in the direction of E . The left side is a cross product and its result will be a vector perpendicular to B. therefore E will be perpendicular to B. The electric field is always perpendicular to the magnetic field, and both fields are directed at right-angles to the direction of propagation of the wave. The wave propagates in the direction E × B.Electric fields and magnetic fields (E and B) in an EM wave are perpendicular to each other and are also perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave. The closer the magnetic field lines are, the stronger the magnetic field at that point. The magnetic field lines are closer or denser at the poles. So, the magnetic field is strongest around the poles of the magnet. The magnetic lines of force flow from pole to pole just like in the bar magnet. However, since the poles are located closer together and a more direct path exists for the lines of flux to travel between the poles, the magnetic field is concentrated between the poles. They are two different fields with nearly the same characteristics. Therefore, they are inter-related in a field called the electromagnetic field. In this field, the electric field and the magnetic field move at right angles to each other. However, they are not dependant on each other.Since k represents the direction of propagation of the wave, we see that the electric and magnetic fields must at all times and all places be perpendicular to the direction in which the wave is travelling. The magnetic force is always perpendicular to the velocity and to the magnetic field. The direction of the magnetic force depends on the sign of the charge.