Seeing all iron magnets lose their magnetism over time*, I propose the planet Earth needs a keeper.

It's less tricky than you think. All it needs a base station at each pole and very long bit of iron. See image in link.

The very long bit of iron could be, say 35,000 feet up, so giving long-haul planes somewhere to perch, eat some bird seed and it's put its cockpit under its wing to get 40 winks.

*maybe
-- not_morrison_rm, Jun 02 2018

Earth Keeper https://drive.googl...w97DpxGlPqEglp6OVRD
[not_morrison_rm, Jun 02 2018]

The Earh?

Alas, though, I'm not convinced this is needed. The Earh's magnetic field is supposedly generated by convection in the iron-nickel core. It's all a bit arm-wavey, but the basic argument is that the flow, in the presence of a magnetic field, generates a current which in turn generates the magnetic field, in a sort of pulling-yourself-up -by-your- bootlaces manner.

However, it is interesting to ponder what would happen if you provided an additional path for the magnetism. I can confidently say that I have no idea of the answer.

On reflection, though, I think there's a fair chance that it would work like some sort of homopolar motor, and the iron band would begin to circle the earth at ever-increasing speeds.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Jun 02 2018


Apologies, the T key on my keyboard is wearing out, so here are some spare t's/T' s just in case.

//the iron band would begin to circle the earth at ever- increasing speeds.

Gadzooks, either the world's largest fun ride, or swatter of unwanted bits of the cosmic ...
-- not_morrison_rm, Jun 02 2018


Apologies, the T key on my keyboard is wearing out, so here are some spare t's/T' s just in case.

//the iron band would begin to circle the earth at ever- increasing speeds.

Gadzooks, either the world's largest fun ride, or swatter of unwanted bits of the cosmic ...
-- not_morrison_rm, Jun 02 2018


...or a way to extract energy from earth's magnetic field. How much could we get anyway?
-- Voice, Jun 02 2018


Loads .... shhhh, and we'll let you have some (until the poles flip, which will be sooner now).
-- 8th of 7, Jun 02 2018



random, halfbakery