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🧪 Magnetosphere Lab (2D): Solar Wind vs. Dipole Field

A 2D Canvas cross-section of Earth's magnetosphere: drag the solar-wind and field-strength sliders to watch the dayside dipole compress, the nightside stretch into a magnetotail, and the aurora readout respond in real time.

Magnetism2DModerate60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted⇄ 3D version

This 2D companion draws the same sun–Earth cross-section as the 3D Magnetosphere Lab with a plain canvas: a dipole field shell traced analytically from r = L·cos²λ is compressed on the dayside and stretched into a magnetotail on the nightside by a Chapman–Ferraro-style pressure balance between the solar wind and the planetary field, while particles bouncing between magnetic mirror points on the inner shells stand in for the Van Allen belts that feed the aurora.

⚙ Under the hood

2D magnetosphere cross-section: dipole field lines compressed on the dayside and stretched into a magnetotail by solar-wind pressure, with mirror-bouncing trapped particles driving the aurora readout.

MagnetosphereDipole fieldSolar windAurora

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install