Northern Lights

Auroras are beautiful light displays visible at night, caused by solar particles colliding with Earth's atmosphere. Solar wind, consisting of charged particles from the Sun, is directed towards Earth's poles by the magnetic field. These particles excite atmospheric atoms, releasing photons of light. The color of the aurora depends on the type of atom struck, with oxygen producing green and nitrogen producing blue or red. Auroras are best seen at the poles and can occur on other planets as well.

What causes the auroras to be visible only at night?

• Auroras are a result of nighttime magnetic activity.

• The Earth's atmosphere is more transparent at night.

• The light from auroras is not visible during the day.

• The Sun's particles are only active at night.

What is the term used to describe the stream of charged particles from the Sun?

• Cosmic rays

• Magnetic storm

• Solar wind

• Solar flare

How do charged particles from the Sun reach the Earth's poles?

• They follow the Earth's magnetic field lines.

• They are guided by the Earth's wind patterns.

• They are deflected by the Earth's atmosphere.

• They are attracted by the Earth's gravity.

What happens when a solar particle excites an electron in an atom?

• The electron disappears.

• The electron emits a sound wave.

• The electron releases a photon of light.

• The electron becomes a proton.

Which color is produced when solar particles collide with oxygen atoms?

• Yellow

• Red

• Green

• Blue