Question

If you took a sample of magnetotactic bacteria from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere, would you expect them to survive?a. Both in the northern and in the southern hemispheres, the earth's field points down. So the bacteria are likely to survive.b. In the northern hemisphere, the vertical component of the earth's field points up, and in the southern hemisphere, it points down. So the bacteria are not likely to survive.c. In the northern hemisphere, the vertical component of the earth's field points down, and in the southern hemisphere, it points up. So the bacteria are not likely to survive.d. Both in the northern and in the southern hemispheres, the earth's field points up. So the bacteria are likely to survive.

Answer 1

The correct answer is: c. In the Northern hemisphere, the vertical component of the earth's field points down, and in the southern hemisphere, it points up. So the bacteria are not likely to survive.

Earth's magnetic field is called the geomagnetic field and it is magnetic field from the Earth’s interior out into space. The North geomagnetic pole is actually the South Pole of the Earth's magnetic field, and vice versa. Since the poles have the opposite direction, the magnetotactic bacteria wouldn’t survive.