Period 2 Classwork

What causes the aurora borealis?

Read this article: earthsky.org - What Causes the Aurora Borealis? and listen to this video NOVA Science Now - Tyson on the Aurora that explain what causes the aurora. Then answer the questions:

Use these vocabulary words to answer 1 through 4:

atmosphere
particles
poles
react


1. The sun sends _______________ out into space.

2. The particles are attracted to the earth's magnetic ______________ (north and south).

3. Atoms in Earth's _______________  become "excited" when the sun's particles hit them.

4. The atoms ________________ by releasing colored lights.

5. What causes the different colors of the aurora?

Write your answers in a new document in Period 2.

Thank you!