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1. Physics P.A.
(2011-2012)Term 2
The Aurora and Atomic Physics
By Hind Hayder Oleish
Grade 11G

2. What is the Aurora?
• A natural light display seen in the sky of high
latitudes. It is known around Northern latitudes as
Northern lights or Aurora Borealis , and around
southern latitudes as Southern lights or Aurora
Australis .

3. Where does it originate?
The Sun:
A glowing sphere of hot gas and mostly
plasma.
• The Third state of matter.
Gas
Heated
Plasma Partially
ionized
gas

5. The Sun’s energy
Convection cell:
circulation of hot and
cool plasma.
Outer
atmosphere.
Energy from
nuclear
fusion

7. • Slow Solar wind
From
Equator
N
S
• Fast Solar wind
From Coronal
holes
( open field lines)
Ejected Plasma Solar Wind

8. Sun-Earth Connection
• After about 4 days , solar wind reaches Earth.
• It affects Earth’s magnetic field, changing its
shape:

10. What produces the dancing lights?
Oxygen
Nitrogen

12. When can you see the Aurora?
• It is known to appear every 11 years,
according to the sunspot cycle.
Greenland
Canada
Norway
Antarctica
New
Zealand
Australia

13. Sources:
• http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/themis/au
roras/sun_earth_connect.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_(astrono
my)
• http://www.northernlightscentre.ca/northernli
ghts.html