Bottom line: When charged particles from the sun strike atoms in Earth’s atmosphere, they cause electrons in the atoms to move to a higher-energy state. When the electrons drop back to a lower energy state, they release a photon: light. This process creates the beautiful aurora, or northern lights.
What causes the aurora physics?
When the electrons reach Earth’s thin upper atmosphere, they collide with nitrogen and oxygen molecules, sending them into an excited state. The excited electrons eventually calm down and release light, which is what we see as the aurora.
How does aurora borealis work physics?
Auroras occur when charged particles (electrons and protons) collide with gases in Earth’s upper atmosphere. Those collisions produce tiny flashes that fill the sky with colourful light. As billions of flashes occur in sequence, the auroras appear to move or ” dance ” in the sky.
What is the science behind aurora borealis?
The Northern Lights are actually the result of collisions between gaseous particles in the Earth’s atmosphere with charged particles released from the sun’s atmosphere. Variations in colour are due to the type of gas particles that are colliding.
How are aurora waves formed?
Electromagnetic waves transfer energy to electrons, which then hitch a ride toward Earth. The electrons eventually collide with atoms and molecules in a brilliant light show — the aurora.
How are auroras related to Earth’s magnetic field?
According to an article published on June 7, 2021, in the journal Nature Communications, auroras starts when disturbances on the sun pull on Earth’s magnetic field, creating cosmic undulations known as Alfvén waves that launch electrons at high speeds into Earth’s atmosphere where they create the aurora.
Why do the Northern Lights only happen in the north?
In the north, it is called Aurora Borealis and in the south, it is called Aurora Australias. Of the two poles, the aurora can be seen the strongest near the arctic circle in the Northern Hemisphere. The reason that the Aurora can only be seen at the poles has to do with how the Earth’s magnetic field acts.
What elements make up the aurora borealis?
The light you see comes from photons released by oxygen and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere. Energetic particles from the solar wind strike the layer of the atmosphere called the ionosphere, ionizing the atoms and molecules. When the ions return to the ground state, energy released as light produces the aurora.
Is the aurora borealis electromagnetic?
One theory is supported by the fact that scientists regularly find powerful electromagnetic waves called Alfvén waves traveling toward the Earth above auroras. According to this theory, Alfvén waves accelerate electrons toward Earth, causing them to precipitate and produce auroras.
Why can we not see auroras in the Philippines?
CAN WE SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN THE PHILIPPINES? No. Our country is just too far away from the south and north as we are located just north of the equator.
What causes the Northern Lights to dance?
Scientists have known for years that these undulating auroras are caused by a storm of charged particles high above Earth. And although a sight to behold, the forces triggering these lights can endanger satellites and air travelers near the poles.
What causes purple Northern Lights?
A large part of the Earth’s atmosphere is made up of nitrogen. The particles from the solar wind must hit nitrogen atoms a lot harder in order to excite them. Once the nitrogen atoms begin to decay, they emit a purple coloured light.
What Causes White Northern Lights?
The sun radiates all visible colors, which is why sunlight appears white. The spectrum of visible light associated with the aurora is much more restricted. The aurora is caused by charged particles in the solar wind colliding with atmospheric atoms and ions.
Are auroras plasma?
In the case of auroras, the plasma is the particles flowing on the solar wind, and the magnetic field is Earth’s geomagnetic field. As the two interact, it generates a physical wave of motion through the plasma, which travels along the magnetic field.
Why should you not wave the Northern Lights?
Thought to be the souls of the dead, the Sámi believed you shouldn’t talk about the Northern Lights. It was also dangerous to tease them by waving, whistling or singing under them, as this would alert the lights to your presence. If you caught their attention, the lights could reach down and carry you up into the sky.
Do auroras form near the magnetic poles?
To Listen to this clip you will need the RealAudio player. So the best places to see auroras are near the magnetic poles. These include areas of northern Greenland, the Scandinavian coast, Siberia (brrr!), and Alaska in the north, and Antarctica in the south.
Which planet has the strongest magnetic field?
Jupiter
After the Sun, Jupiter has by far the strongest and biggest magnetic field in our solar system — it stretches about 12 million miles from east to west, almost 15 times the width of the Sun.
What happens if you touch aurora borealis?
The aurora is emitted between 90 and 150 km in altitude (i.e. mostly above the ‘official’ boundary of space, 100 km), so ungloving your hand inside an aurora would likely be fatal (unless a fellow astronaut immediately reattaches your glove and repressurizes your suit).
How many times does the aurora borealis occur?
“Active periods are typically about 30 minutes long and occur every two hours, if the activity is high. The aurora is a sporadic phenomenon, occurring randomly for short periods or perhaps not at all.”
How long does aurora borealis last?
15-30 minutes
A good display may last for no longer than 15-30 minutes at a time, although if you’re really lucky, it could extend to a couple of hours or longer. To see the Northern lights, the sky needs to be dark and clear of any clouds. Some people claim the aurora comes out when temperatures are colder.
Why don’t we see auroras on the moon?
Since the moon has no magnetic field and only a very thin atmosphere, there are no aurorae on the moon. Mars is a bit different. It does have an atmosphere, but does not have a magnetic field, however a type of aurora has been observed on Mars.