A comet-shaped region surrounding the earth and other magnetic planets in which the charged particles of the solar wind are controlled by the planet's magnetic field rather than the sun's magnetic field. It extends for some 60 000 km on the side facing the sun but on the opposite side it extends to a much greater extent. The boundary of the magnetosphere is known as the magnetopause (see illustration). The magnetosphere of the earth includes the Van Allen belts.
Magnetosphere and magnetopause
- relative permittivity
- relativistic mass
- relativistic mechanics
- relativistic quantum theory
- relativistic speed
- relativity
- relaxation oscillator
- relay
- reluctance
- reluctivity
- rem
- remanence
- remote sensing
- renewable energy sources
- renormalization
- renormalization group
- reptation
- resistance
- resistance thermometer
- resistivity
- resistor
- resolution
- resolving power
- resonance
- resonant cavity