ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

World Magnetic Model

Have you ever played with a magnet before? You know how sometimes it can stick to the refrigerator or to a piece of metal? Well, the Earth is like a really big magnet too - it has a magnetic field that helps protect us from harmful things in space, like particles from the sun.

Scientists have come up with something called the World Magnetic Model, which is like a map of the Earth's magnetic field. It tells us where the north and south poles of the Earth's magnetic field are, and how strong it is in different parts of the world.

People use the World Magnetic Model to help things like airplanes and ships navigate more accurately. They can use it to figure out which direction they need to go in and how their equipment might be affected by the Earth's magnetic field.

Scientists are always studying the Earth's magnetic field and updating the World Magnetic Model so that we can have the most accurate information possible. And that's why it's important for us to understand the World Magnetic Model!