The source of the aurora (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 aurora (both northern and southern lights) is caused by charged particles from the Sun (solar wind) that are trapped by Earth's magnetic field and interact with molecules in Earth's atmosphere, causing those molecules to emit light. This process creates the beautiful and dynamic displays known as auroras.

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