Chronology Current Month Current Thread Current Date
[Year List] [Month List (current year)] [Date Index] [Thread Index] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Prev] [Date Next]

Re: magnetic field like this?



William Beaty <billb@eskimo.com> wrote:

... I've heard that some K-6 publishers include diagrams which are not
reviewed by authors of the actual text. ...

Zeilik's book is in its 8th edition and it was published by Wiley. I do
not see how anybody but the author can be blamed for errors at that stage.

I still would like to hear from those who teach astronomy how this figure,
or a correct figure which it should be replaced with, explains the transfer
of angular momentum (from the spinning sun to orbiting planets via magnetic
field). I am referring to his Figure 12.9 on page 259. A very similar figure,
but clearly drawn by another hand, can be found in the 2nd edition of his
"Astronomy, the Cosmic Perespective", page 361. Same caption but two slightly
different illustrations.

I would accept a statement that a possibility of the redistribution of
angular momentum via magnetic field should be taken on faith (what else
is new?) because the topic is "too complex to be explained conceptually".
But that is not the way in which the subject is presented.

No, I am not trying to emitate Mario Iona; I honestly would like to know
the answer. My previous two messages ars shown below.

......................................................................
From: LUDWIK KOWALSKI <KOWALSKIL@alpha.montclair.edu>
Subject: Re: magnetic lines like this?
Sender: owner-phys-l@mailer.uwf.edu

The message posted yesterday (see below) was referring to Figure 12.19,
on page 259, of Zeilik's "Astronomy, the Evolving Universe", 8th edition,
1997. The caption is --> "Top view of a possible primeaval solar magnetic
field. One end of the field lines rotates with the sun; the other end is
dragged by the ionized material (plasma) in the disk." Is this a "common
misconception" or just a blunder of one particular author? I saw similar
lines in another text. Perhaps these lines represent something different
than what they call magnetic field lines.
Ludwik Kowalski

... An astronomy textbook shows a diagram of magnetic field lines
EMERGING from our SUN and spirling out to infinity. I interpret this
as a statement that our solar system is a magnetic monopole. The author
does not say this but how else can the diagram be interpreted? Am I
reading it wrongly or are we facing another textbook misconception?
Those who teach astronomy will know, I hope.
.......................................................................