Two pairs of associated sunspots appear on the visible disk of the photosphere of the Sun, one pair in each hemisphere. If the magnetic polarity of the westernmost spot in the northern hemisphere is found to be N, what will be the magnetic polarities of the other three spots?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sunspots appear in pairs with opposite magnetic polarities. The leading spot (in the direction of the Sun's rotation, which is westward in the northern hemisphere) has a consistent polarity in one hemisphere, which is opposite to the leading spot's polarity in the other hemisphere. Given the westernmost spot in the northern hemisphere is N, the other spot in the northern pair would be S, and in the southern hemisphere, the arrangement would be reversed, with the westernmost spot being S and its pair being N.

Two Pairs of Associated Sunspots Appear on the Visible Disk