Category 2 · Geography
Interior of the Earth and Magnetic Field
8 micro topics in Geography for UPSC Prelims, in book order: Sources of Information about the Interior of the Earth; Seismic Waves and Their Types; and 6 more.
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2.1
Sources of Information about the Interior of the Earth
Nobody has seen the deep interior of the Earth, so knowledge comes from direct sources such as mining and deep drilling, which reach only a few kilometres, and from indirect sources such as the rise of…
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2.2
Seismic Waves and Their Types
Seismic waves are vibrations released at the focus of an earthquake that travel through and around the Earth. Body waves, the faster P waves and the slower S waves, pass through the interior, while surface waves…
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2.3
Crust, Mantle and Core – Internal Structure of the Earth
The Earth has three main layers: the thin solid crust, the mantle that extends to about 2,900 km, and the core that extends to the centre at about 6,371 km. The crust and the uppermost solid…
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2.4
Seismic Discontinuities of the Earth
Seismic discontinuities are boundaries inside the Earth where the speed of seismic waves changes sharply because the material changes. The Conrad discontinuity lies within the crust, the Mohorovicic discontinuity separates crust from mantle, the Repetti discontinuity…
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2.5
Dynamo Theory and the Magnetic Field of the Earth
The Earth's magnetic field is generated by the dynamo theory: the heat of the core drives convection in the liquid iron of the outer core, and with the rotation of the Earth this moving, electrically conducting…
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2.6
Magnetic Poles, Declination and Inclination
The magnetic poles are the points where the Earth's magnetic field lines are vertical, and they do not coincide with the geographic poles. Magnetic declination is the angle between true north and magnetic north at a…
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2.7
Geomagnetic Reversal and Geomagnetic Poles
Geomagnetic poles are the ends of the axis of the best-fitting dipole at the centre of the Earth, so they are exactly opposite each other, unlike the wandering magnetic poles. A geomagnetic reversal is the flip…
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2.8
Magnetosphere, Auroras and Van Allen Radiation Belts
The magnetosphere is the region of space controlled by the Earth's magnetic field, shaped by the solar wind into a compressed side facing the Sun and a long magnetotail. It traps charged particles in the Van…
Frequently asked questions
Which topics are in Interior of the Earth and Magnetic Field?
Interior of the Earth and Magnetic Field has 8 micro topics in Geography: Sources of Information about the Interior of the Earth; Seismic Waves and Their Types; Crust, Mantle and Core – Internal Structure of the Earth; Seismic Discontinuities of the Earth; Dynamo Theory and the Magnetic Field of the Earth; Magnetic Poles, Declination and Inclination; Geomagnetic Reversal and Geomagnetic Poles; Magnetosphere, Auroras and Van Allen Radiation Belts.
Is Interior of the Earth and Magnetic Field important for UPSC Prelims?
Interior of the Earth and Magnetic Field is a part of the UPSC Prelims Geography syllabus map on MaargX UPSC. Each of its 8 published topics has key terms, a Mains angle and practice questions.