Aurora Borealis

This is an image of the aurora borealis from ______

What causes the auroras?

• Particles from the Sun in Earth’s Magnetic field

• The moon reflecting the sun’s rays

• The speed of the clouds moving on Earth

• Water from the sea going up into the atmosphere

The Northern lights are visible most of the year but can only be seen through a telescope.

• True

• False

Label the image

a

b

c

d

Magnetic field

Aurora circle

Aurora oval

Sun flare

Solar wind

Solar flare

Why are their only no auroras at the equator and only the poles?

• The magnetic field not strong enough at the equator

• The magnetic field at the poles is strong enough to pull the solar wind's particles in

• It is too hot for the particles to become excited

• Days are too long and the nights too short

What is the most common aurora color

• 
• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Match the following terms

• Solar Wind

• Aurora lights in

  the Southern

  Hemisphere of

  Earth

• Aurora Borealis

• Extra particles

  released from the

  sun that go off

  into space

• Aurora

• The field around

  earth with

  positive and

  negative “poles”

  that attract

• Aurora Australis

• Aurora lights in

  the Northern

  Hemisphere of

  Earth

• Magnetic Field

• From the Roman

  goddess, meaning

  “Dawn”

What is the primary cause of the Aurora Borealis?

• Solar wind interacting with Earth's magnetic field

• Reflection of sunlight by ice crystals in the atmosphere

• Volcanic eruptions releasing gases into the atmosphere

• Lightning storms in polar regions

Which element is primarily responsible for the green color in the Aurora Borealis?

• Oxygen

• Nitrogen

• Helium

• Hydrogen

In which layer of Earth's atmosphere do auroras primarily occur?

• Troposphere

• Stratosphere

• Mesosphere

• Thermosphere