The source of the aurorae (northern/southern lights)on Earth is
A) natural decay of radioactive elements.
B) reflection of sunlight off the polar ice sheets.
C) small meteorites burning up in Earth's atmosphere.
D) charged particles trapped by Earth's magnetic field interacting with the atmosphere.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The best choice is D, as charged particles from the solar wind and trapped particles in Earth's magnetic field interact with the upper atmosphere to produce colorful aurorae. Option A is incorrect, as aurorae are not caused by the natural decay of radioactive elements. Option B is incorrect, as the reflection of sunlight off the polar ice sheets does not play a role in the formation of aurorae. Option C is incorrect, as small meteorites burning up in Earth's atmosphere do not contribute to the phenomenon of aurorae.

The Source of the Aurorae (Northern/southern Lights)on Earth Is