Basic Facts About Drift Motion

The Facts About Drift Motion

This image shows how the Earth's magnetic field causes electrons to drift one way about the Earth. Protons drift the opposite direction.
Movie adapted from original clips provided courtesy of Professor Patricia Reiff, Rice University, Connections Program

The Earth's magnetic field forces some particles to drift around the earth, protons (ions) in one direction, electrons in the other.

The Facts About Drift Motion

This image shows how the Earth's magnetic field causes electrons to drift one way about the Earth. Protons drift the opposite direction.
Movie adapted from original clips provided courtesy of Professor Patricia Reiff, Rice University, Connections Program

The Earth's magnetic field forces some particles to drift around the earth, protons (ions) in one direction, electrons in the other.

The Facts About Drift Motion

This image shows how the Earth's magnetic field causes electrons to drift one way about the Earth. Protons drift the opposite direction.
Movie adapted from original clips provided courtesy of Professor Patricia Reiff, Rice University, Connections Program

Curvature of the magnetic field lines and the non-uniform strength of the magnetic field force particles to drift around the earth, ions in one direction, electrons in the other.

The Facts About Drift Motion

This image shows how the Earth's magnetic field causes electrons to drift one way about the Earth. Protons drift the opposite direction. Movie adapted from original clips provided courtesy of Professor Patricia Reiff, Rice University, Connections Program

The Facts About Drift Motion

This image shows how the Earth's magnetic field causes electrons to drift one way about the Earth. Protons drift the opposite direction. Movie adapted from original clips provided courtesy of Professor Patricia Reiff, Rice University, Connections Program

The Facts About Drift Motion

This image shows how the Earth's magnetic field causes electrons to drift one way about the Earth. Protons drift the opposite direction. Movie adapted from original clips provided courtesy of Professor Patricia Reiff, Rice University, Connections Program

This image shows how the Earth's magnetic field causes electrons to drift one way about the Earth. Protons drift the opposite direction.
Movie adapted from original clips provided courtesy of Professor Patricia Reiff, Rice University, Connections Program

This image shows how the Earth's magnetic field causes electrons to drift one way about the Earth. Protons drift the opposite direction.
Movie adapted from original clips provided courtesy of Professor Patricia Reiff, Rice University, Connections Program

This image shows how the Earth's magnetic field causes electrons to drift one way about the Earth. Protons drift the opposite direction.
Movie adapted from original clips provided courtesy of Professor Patricia Reiff, Rice University, Connections Program