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Back in the summer of 1962, the U.S. blew up a hydrogen bomb in outer space, som

ID: 1603841 • Letter: B

Question

Back in the summer of 1962, the U.S. blew up a hydrogen bomb in outer space, some 250 miles above the Pacific Ocean. It was a weapons test. It induced an artificial aurora borealis ("Northern Lights"). If such a device were exploded high above the Earth's North magnetic pole, at what place or places on Earth could you see the artificial aurora?

Choose one of these answers and explain your choice:
a) Above the North Pole
b) Above the South Pole
c) Above both poles
d) Above both poles and the equator
e) Just above the equator

Explanation / Answer

The aurora IS related to the Earth's magnetism. The aurora (Northern and Southern Lights) mostly happen near the magnetic poles. That's because the charged particles (mostly electrons and protons) that cause the aurora follow along magnetic field lines towards the magnetic poles. if such a device exploded high above the earth's north magnetic pole above thenorth pole on earth could you see the artificial aurora.