The Science of the Northern Lights

What causes the Northern Lights?

• The Earth's magnetic field

• The interaction between the Earth's magnetic field and charged particles from the sun

• The sun's magnetic field

• The interaction between the sun's magnetic field and charged particles from the Earth

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-5

What determines the different colors of the Northern Lights?

What happens when charged particles from the sun collide with atoms and molecules in the Earth's atmosphere?

• They release energy in the form of light

• They create a magnetic field around the Earth

• They cause earthquakes on the Earth's surface

• They form a protective layer around the Earth

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-3

What instruments do scientists use to collect data and analyze the behavior of charged particles and the Earth's magnetic field?

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-5

NGSS.HS-PS3-5

What is the role of the Earth's magnetic field in relation to the charged particles from the sun?

• It attracts all the charged particles from the sun

• It deflects most of the charged particles from the sun

• It allows all the charged particles from the sun to enter the Earth's atmosphere

• It has no effect on the charged particles from the sun