The geodynamo usually appears as a somewhat intimidating subject. Its understanding seems to require the intricate theory of magnetohydrodynamics. The solution of the corresponding equations can only be achieved numerically. It seems to be a subject for the specialist. We show that one can understand the basics of the functioning of the geodynamo solely by using the well-known laws of electrodynamics. The topic is not only important for geophysicists. The same physics is the cause for the magnetic fields of sun-like stars, of the very strong fields of neutron stars, and also of the cosmic magnetic fields.

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非地球物理学家的地球发电机

地球发电机通常看起来有点吓人。它的理解似乎需要复杂的磁流体力学理论。相应方程的解只能用数值方法求解。这似乎是专家的课题。我们表明，仅通过使用众所周知的电动力学定律，人们就可以理解地球发电机功能的基础知识。这个话题不仅对地球物理学家很重要。类似太阳的恒星的磁场、中子星的非常强的磁场以及宇宙磁场的原因也是相同的物理学。