Auroras Flashcard

Front

What is an aurora?

Back

An aurora is a natural light display predominantly seen in high-latitude regions around the Arctic and Antarctic, caused by the interaction of solar wind with the Earth's magnetic field.

Front

What causes auroras?

Back

Auroras are caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with gases in the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in light emissions.

Front

What is a solar flare?

Back

A solar flare is a sudden eruption of energy on the sun's surface that ejects plasma and radiation into space.

Front

What is plasma?

Back

Plasma is one of the four fundamental states of matter, consisting of ionized gas with free-moving charged particles.

Front

How long does it take for solar plasma to reach Earth?

Back

It takes about 2 days for ejected plasma from the sun to reach Earth.

Front

What are the main colors of auroras?

Back

The main colors of auroras include green, red, purple, and blue.

Front

What is the role of Earth's magnetic field in auroras?

Back

Earth's magnetic field protects the planet from solar wind and directs charged particles towards the poles, where they create auroras.

Front

What happens when excited electrons return to their normal energy levels?

Back

When excited electrons revert to their normal energy levels, they release energy in the form of photons.

Front

Which gas is primarily responsible for the green color in auroras?

Back

The green color in auroras is primarily caused by oxygen molecules at high altitudes.

Front

What is the difference between auroras and other atmospheric phenomena?

Back

Auroras are specifically caused by solar wind interactions, while other phenomena like rainbows are caused by light refraction.