Earth's magnetic field

The Earth has a very strong magnet inside it. It's like an invisible "force field" around the Earth that helps protect us from the sun's dangerous rays. Scientists call this strong magnet the Earth's magnetic field. The Earth's magnetic field is always changing and if it wasn't there, life on Earth would be very different.
The magnet inside the Earth helps us by directing things like the compass needle. A compass needle is a tiny bar magnet inside a needle-like container. It points in the direction of the Earth's magnetic field and helps people like hikers, navigators, and explorers to know which way is north, south, east, or west.
The Earth's magnetic field helps us in other ways too. It sort of works like a big umbrella that protects us from radiation coming from the Sun. This radiation can be dangerous, but the Earth's magnetic field helps keep the radiation away, making the Earth a safer place to live.