I keep getting “Earth as a magnetic field” questions wrong in Magnetism & Matter. What's the trap?
interchanging declination and dip.
The usual trap: interchanging declination and dip. How to avoid it: declination turns on the map; dip tilts below the horizon. Go back to the definition — Locally, Earth's field is described by declination, dip (inclination), and horizontal component. Dip is measured from the horizontal plane, not from the vertical.
Key point
Earth as a magnetic field
Common mistake
interchanging declination and dip.
Memory tip
declination turns on the map; dip tilts below the horizon.
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