How Is Earth Like a Magnet? Printable (6th - 12th Grade ... - Free Printable

Let’s go step by step to fill in the blanks based on how Earth acts like a magnet.

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1. The _______ — tiny charged particles from the Sun. When the charged particles reach Earth, they are guided by Earth’s magnetic field toward the poles.

→ These are called solar wind. Solar wind is made of charged particles (like electrons and protons) that stream out from the Sun. When they hit Earth, our magnetic field steers them toward the North and South Poles — which causes auroras!

✔ Blank 1: solar wind

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2. The _______ is Earth’s only natural satellite.

→ That’s easy — it’s the Moon. It orbits Earth and is the only natural object that does so.

✔ Blank 2: Moon

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3. Scientists think that Earth’s _______ is what causes the magnetic field.

→ Deep inside Earth, there’s a layer called the outer core, made mostly of liquid iron and nickel. As this metal moves around due to heat and rotation, it creates electric currents — which generate Earth’s magnetic field. This process is called the “geodynamo.”

But the blank says “Earth’s _______” — most likely referring to the core (or sometimes specifically “outer core”). Since this is for students, “core” is acceptable and commonly used at this level.

✔ Blank 3: core

*(Note: Some curricula may say “outer core,” but “core” is simpler and still correct for basic understanding.)*

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4. The end of a magnet that points north is called the _______ pole.

→ Every magnet has two poles: north and south. The end that points toward Earth’s geographic North Pole is actually attracted to Earth’s *magnetic south pole* — but we call that end of the magnet the north-seeking pole, or simply the north pole of the magnet.

So, if you have a bar magnet or compass needle, the end that points north is labeled the north pole.

✔ Blank 4: north

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5. The north magnetic pole is actually a _______ pole because opposite poles attract.

→ Here’s the tricky part! Earth’s *geographic* North Pole is near its *magnetic south pole*. Why? Because the north pole of a compass (which is a magnet) is attracted to the south pole of another magnet. So, since the compass’s north pole points to Earth’s Arctic region, that means Earth’s magnetic pole there must be a south magnetic pole.

This is confusing, but remember: opposites attract. Compass north → attracts to Earth’s magnetic south.

✔ Blank 5: south

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Now let’s put it all together:

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Final Answer:

1. solar wind
2. Moon
3. core
4. north
5. south