听力文摘：电磁感应

Motional Induction¹

电磁感应

Last time, we talked about "motional induction," a phenomenon by which the ocean generates a magnetic field.

上次，我们提到过动生电磁感应：海洋产生磁场的一种现象。

It works like this: earth has its own magnetic field. The ocean has plenty of charged atoms in it, in the form of dissolved salt. These atoms are in motion because the ocean flows.

地球有自己的磁场，海洋有无数溶解盐形式的带电原子，随着海洋运动而运动。

Charged atoms moving through a magnetic field will induce an electric current. And an electric current will, in turn, create another magnetic field. The ocean should generate its own magnetic field.

在磁场中运动的带电原子会引起电流，而电流反过来又回形成另一个磁场。这样海洋应该就形成了自己的磁场。

You said should. How could we know this "motional induction" is happening?

你说“应该”，我们怎么知道这种动生电磁感应确有其事？

Direct evidence came in 2003 from scientists working at the University of Washington and a research institute in Potsdam, Germany. These researchers used a magnetometer on board an orbiting satellite.

直到2003年，华盛顿大学和德国波兹坦的某研究学院研究人员将磁力计放在轨道卫星上，证实海洋的磁场真是存在。

First, they figured out what the magnetic field of the planet should be. After subtracting this figure, they found there was still some leftover² magnetic field.

最初，磁力计上的数据让科学家以为是地球磁场作用的。而后，他们发现除去这个因素后，仍然有磁场存在。

Next, the team made a computer model of what kind of magnetic field the ocean should generate through motional induction. Sure enough, their prediction matched the excess magnetic field measured by the satellite.

研究人员又电脑模拟在动生电磁感应让海洋产生哪种磁场，当然，科学家的推论和卫星上测出的“另一个”磁场吻合。

The satellite also found that magneticintensity over the oceans peaked every twelve and a half hours, but not over the land. Can you guess why?

卫星还发现，海洋磁场每隔12个半小时就会出现高峰，但是地球磁场不受影响。你能猜到原因吗？

Every twelve hours... Oh,I get it—tides!

每隔12个半小时？我知道了！答案是潮汐。

Exactly right! The tides rise and fall every twelve and half hours, just as that extra magnetic energy swells³ and diminishes. This is very strong evidence that motional induction is real... and the ocean has its own magnetism⁴.

完全正确！潮汐每隔12个半小时潮起潮落，正好和“另一个”磁场高低峰吻合。这正是磁场感应存在的真凭实据，海洋确实有自己独特的磁力。

1 induction   

n.感应，感应现象

参考例句：

• His induction as a teacher was a turning point in his life.他就任教师工作是他一生的转折点。
• The magnetic signals are sensed by induction coils.磁信号由感应线圈所检测。

2 leftover   

n.剩货，残留物，剩饭；adj.残余的

参考例句：

• These narrow roads are a leftover from the days of horse-drawn carriages.这些小道是从马车时代沿用下来的。
• Wonder if that bakery lets us take leftover home.不知道那家糕饼店会不会让我们把卖剩的带回家。

3 swells   

增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情）

参考例句：

• The waters were heaving up in great swells. 河水正在急剧上升。
• A barrel swells in the middle. 水桶中部隆起。

4 magnetism   

n.磁性，吸引力，磁学

参考例句：

• We know about magnetism by the way magnets act.我们通过磁铁的作用知道磁性是怎么一回事。
• His success showed his magnetism of courage and devotion.他的成功表现了他的胆量和热诚的魅力。