Editing Dynamo theory (section)

{{Short description|Mechanism by which a celestial body generates a magnetic field}}
{{About|a proposed theory for the source of a planet's magnetic field|an explanation of the operation of a mechanical dynamo|Dynamo}}
[[File:Dynamo Theory - Outer core convection and magnetic field generation.svg|upright=1.5|thumb|Illustration of the dynamo mechanism that generates the Earth's magnetic field: [[convection]] currents of fluid metal in the Earth's [[Internal structure of Earth|outer core]], driven by heat flow from the inner core, organized into rolls by the [[Coriolis force]], generate circulating electric currents, which supports the magnetic field.<ref>{{cite web |title=How does the Earth's core generate a magnetic field? |website=USGS FAQs |publisher=United States Geological Survey |url=http://www.usgs.gov/faq/?q=categories/9782/2738 |access-date=21 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118213104/http://www.usgs.gov/faq/?q=categories%2F9782%2F2738 |archive-date=18 January 2015 }}</ref>]]

In [[physics]], the '''dynamo theory''' proposes a mechanism by which a celestial body such as [[Earth]] or a [[star]] generates a [[magnetic field]]. The dynamo theory describes the process through which a rotating, [[convection|convecting]], and [[electric]]ally conducting fluid can maintain a magnetic field over [[astronomical]] time scales.  A dynamo is thought to be the source of the [[Earth's magnetic field]] and the magnetic fields of Mercury and the [[Jovian planets]].