Which statement about field lines and geographic poles is true?

Which statement about field lines and geographic poles is true?

• A. Field lines intersect the geographic poles at right angles.
• B. Field lines are not aligned with the geographic poles.
• C. Field lines wrap around the equator only.
• D. Field lines originate at the geographic equator.

Answer: (B)

Field lines illustrate the direction of the Earth’s magnetic field, which is generated by the moving molten iron in the core. This magnetic field is roughly a dipole, but the magnetic poles are not located at the geographic poles. The axis of the magnetic dipole is tilted relative to the rotation axis and shifts slowly over time. Because of this, the field lines run from one magnetic pole to the other and trace a pattern that is inclined relative to the geographic north-south lines. They don’t simply follow the lines of longitude or line up with the geographic poles, nor do they originate at the equator or wrap exclusively around it. So the statement that field lines are not aligned with the geographic poles best captures how the magnetic field behaves.

Field lines illustrate the direction of the Earth’s magnetic field, which is generated by the moving molten iron in the core. This magnetic field is roughly a dipole, but the magnetic poles are not located at the geographic poles. The axis of the magnetic dipole is tilted relative to the rotation axis and shifts slowly over time. Because of this, the field lines run from one magnetic pole to the other and trace a pattern that is inclined relative to the geographic north-south lines. They don’t simply follow the lines of longitude or line up with the geographic poles, nor do they originate at the equator or wrap exclusively around it. So the statement that field lines are not aligned with the geographic poles best captures how the magnetic field behaves.