The solar cycle is the cycle of the
magnetic field of the sun. A full
cycle is two 11 year cycles or 22 years. At the start there are straight magnetic lines running south to north parallel to the suns axis of rotation. This is the
solar minimum. As the sun rotates the
equator moves faster than the upper
latitudes. Since the lines are moving faster at the middle than at the top they start to twist around themselves. The more twisted they become the more
sunspots we see. Eventually about 11 years later the lines become so twisted that they start to break out frequently. This is
solar maximum. Then the entire magnetic system collapes.
After this happens the magnetic field reforms but in the opposite direction. Now the lines run North to South perpendicular to the sun's
axis of rotation. Again the lines start to
twist around themselves until the field collapses
At this time the lines reform running South to North. That is one complete solar cycle.