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Science '2526
To study for Science 2025-2026 Academic Pentathlon!
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the Greek word for amber? - Written by Zoe Tov | Electron. |
| How many elements are there inside the Periodic Table currently? - Written by Zoe Tov | There are currently 118 known elements. |
| What did people observe when rubbing certain materials together? - Written by Zoe Tov. | They could attract small lightweight objects like feathers or paper. |
| Who first named the electric force and when? - Written by Zoe Tov. | William Gilbert in 1600. |
| What were the four classical elements in ancient philosophy? - Written by Zoe Tov. | Earth, air, fire, and water. |
| Why are earth, air, fire, and water not true elements? - Written by Zoe Tov. | They are made of smaller substances. |
| What modern tool lists all known elements? - Written by Zoe Tov. | The Periodic Table. |
| What is an atom? - Written by Zoe Tov. | The basic unit of matter that makes up elements. |
| What does the word “atom” mean in Greek? - Written by Zoe Tov. | Indivisible. |
| What debate did philosophers have about matter? - Written by Zoe Tov. | Whether matter is indivisible or infinitely divisible. |
| What discovery resolved the debate about matter’s divisibility? - Written by Zoe Tov. | The discovery of atoms and subatomic particles. |
| Who was Benjamin Franklin? - Written by Zoe Tov. | A founding father and early scientist of electricity. |
| What device stores electric charge and delivers shocks? - Written by Zoe Tov. | The Leyden jar. |
| What did Franklin call electric charge? - Written by Zoe Tov. | Electrical fire. |
| What important rule about charge did Franklin discover? - Written by Zoe Tov. | Electric charge is conserved. |
| What does conservation of charge mean? - Written by Zoe Tov. | Charge cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred. |
| What did Franklin’s kite experiment prove? - Written by Zoe Tov. | Lightning is an electrical phenomenon. |
| What particles make up an atom? - Written by Zoe Tov. | Protons, neutrons, and electrons. |
| Where are protons and neutrons located? - Written by Zoe Tov. | In the nucleus. |
| Where are electrons located? - Written by Zoe Tov. | Orbiting the nucleus. |
| Which atomic particles have mass? - Written by Zoe Tov. | Protons and neutrons. |
| Which atomic particle has very little mass? - Written by Zoe Tov. | The electron. |
| What is mass? - Written by Zoe Tov. | A measure of resistance to motion, measured in kilograms. |
| What is inertia? - Written by Zoe Tov. | Resistance to changes in motion. |
| Which particle carries negative charge? - Written by Zoe Tov. | The electron. |
| Which particle carries positive charge? - Written by Zoe Tov. | The proton. |
| What happens between opposite charges? - Written by Zoe Tov. | They attract. |
| Why does electricity mainly involve electrons? - Written by Zoe Tov. | Electrons are much lighter and move more easily than protons. |
| Why is scientific notation used in physics? Written by Zoe Tov. | To write very large or very small numbers in a compact form. |
| What does 2 × 10³⁰ represent? Written by Zoe Tov. | Two multiplied by ten to the thirtieth power. |
| What does a negative exponent mean in scientific notation? Written by Zoe Tov. | Dividing by ten instead of multiplying. |
| What is 10⁻³ equal to? Written by Zoe Tov. | 0.001. |
| Why does scientific notation make calculations easier? Written by Zoe Tov. | It simplifies working with extreme values. |
| What does the prefix kilo mean? Written by Zoe Tov. | One thousand. |
| What power of ten does mega represent? Written by Zoe Tov. | 10⁶. |
| What prefix corresponds to 10⁻⁶? Written by Zoe Tov. | Micro. |
| How many fundamental forces exist in the universe? Written by Zoe Tov. | Four. |
| Which fundamental force holds atoms together? Written by Zoe Tov. | The electric force. |
| Which forces act only inside the atomic nucleus? Written by Zoe Tov. | The strong and weak nuclear forces. |
| What does the strong nuclear force do? Written by Zoe Tov. | It holds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus. |
| What is gravity? Written by Zoe Tov. | A force that attracts mass to mass. |
| What variables determine the strength of gravity? Written by Zoe Tov. | The masses of the objects and the distance between them. |
| How does gravitational force change with distance? Written by Zoe Tov. | It follows an inverse square law. |
| What happens to gravity if distance doubles? Written by Zoe Tov. | The force becomes one-fourth as strong. |
| What is G? Written by Zoe Tov. | The gravitational constant. |
| Why is gravity between small objects hard to notice? Written by Zoe Tov. | Because G is very small. |
| Why is gravity negligible inside atoms? Written by Zoe Tov. | Particle masses are extremely small. |
| What law describes the electric force between charges? Written by Zoe Tov. | Coulomb’s Law. |
| What quantities does Coulomb’s Law depend on? Written by Zoe Tov. | Charge and the square of the distance. |
| What happens when like charges interact? Written by Zoe Tov. | They repel each other. |
| What happens when opposite charges interact? Written by Zoe Tov. | They attract each other. |
| What is the charge of a proton or electron? Written by Zoe Tov. | ±1.7 × 10⁻¹⁹ coulombs. |
| What does it mean that charge is quantized? Written by Zoe Tov. | Charge comes in discrete amounts. |
| Why is electric force stronger than gravity at small scales? Written by Zoe Tov. | The Coulomb constant is much larger than G. |
| Why don’t we feel electric forces in everyday life? Written by Zoe Tov. | Most objects are electrically neutral. |
| What is an electric field? Written by Zoe Tov. | A region where a charge experiences force. |
| What equation relates electric force and electric field? Written by Zoe Tov. | F = qE. |
| In what direction does an electric field point around a positive charge? Written by Zoe Tov. | Away from the charge. |
| In what direction does an electric field point around a negative charge? Written by Zoe Tov. | Toward the charge. |
| What is a vector field? Written by Zoe Tov. | A field with both magnitude and direction. |
| What is a scalar field? Written by Zoe Tov. | A field with magnitude only. |
| Why is gravity considered a field? Written by Zoe Tov. | It affects objects throughout space. |
| What does g represent near Earth’s surface? Written by Zoe Tov. | The strength of Earth’s gravitational field. |
| Why does electricity mainly involve electrons? Written by Zoe Tov. | Electrons are much lighter and move more easily than protons. |
| What happens when electrons are transferred between objects? Written by Zoe Tov. | Static electric charge is created. |
| Why is charge conserved? Written by Zoe Tov. | Charge cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred. |
| Why does gravity dominate at large scales? Written by Zoe Tov. | Mass cannot be neutralized, unlike electric charge. |
| What is Gauss’s law? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Gauss’s law explains how the total electric flux through a closed surface depends on the amount of electric charge inside that surface. |
| What does electric flux measure? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Electric flux measures how much electric field passes through a surface, showing how strong the field is across that area. |
| What is ε₀? – Written by Zoe Tov. | ε₀, called the permittivity of free space, is a constant that affects how electric fields behave in empty space. |
| How is ε₀ related to Coulomb’s constant? – Written by Zoe Tov. | ε₀ is mathematically related to Coulomb’s constant by the equation ε₀ = 1⁄(4πk). |
| Why is symmetry important when using Gauss’s law? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Symmetry makes calculations easier because the electric field behaves the same way in predictable directions. |
| What Gaussian surface is used for a sheet of charge? – Written by Zoe Tov. | A cylindrical Gaussian surface is used because it matches the shape of the electric field around a sheet of charge. |
| Why is there no electric flux through the side of the cylinder? – Written by Zoe Tov. | The electric field runs parallel to the side, so no field lines pass through it. |
| What is surface charge density? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Surface charge density describes how much electric charge is spread over a certain area. |
| What symbol represents surface charge density? – Written by Zoe Tov. | The symbol σ represents surface charge density. |
| What is the electric field of an infinite sheet of charge? – Written by Zoe Tov. | The electric field equals σ⁄(2ε₀) and remains constant no matter how far you are from the sheet. |
| Does the electric field of a charged sheet depend on distance? – Written by Zoe Tov. | No, the electric field stays the same regardless of distance from the sheet. |
| What is static electricity? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Static electricity is the buildup of electric charge on an object that does not flow continuously. |
| Why does static cling occur? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Static cling happens because oppositely charged objects attract each other. |
| What causes a static shock? – Written by Zoe Tov. | A static shock occurs when built-up charge suddenly discharges between objects. |
| What does a Van de Graaff generator do? – Written by Zoe Tov. | It builds up large amounts of static electric charge on its surface. |
| Why does hair stand up near a Van de Graaff generator? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Each strand gains the same type of charge, causing the hairs to repel each other. |
| What is electric polarization? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Electric polarization is when charges inside a neutral object shift slightly due to a nearby charge. |
| Why can a charged balloon stick to a wall? – Written by Zoe Tov. | The balloon causes polarization in the wall, creating attraction between opposite charges. |
| What is an electric dipole? – Written by Zoe Tov. | An electric dipole is a system with separated positive and negative charges. |
| Why is water a polar molecule? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Water has uneven electron distribution, giving it partial positive and negative ends. |
| What is a conductor? – Written by Zoe Tov. | A conductor is a material that allows electric charge to move freely. |
| What is an insulator? – Written by Zoe Tov. | An insulator is a material that prevents electric charge from moving easily. |
| Why are metals good conductors? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Metals have loosely bound electrons that move easily through the material. |
| What happens to charge placed on a conductor? – Written by Zoe Tov. | The charge spreads out and moves to the surface of the conductor. |
| What is a Faraday cage? – Written by Zoe Tov. | A Faraday cage is a structure that blocks electric fields inside it. |
| Why does a lightning rod work? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Charge concentrates at sharp points, allowing lightning to safely travel to the ground. |
| What is voltage? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Voltage is the electric potential difference that pushes charges through a circuit. |
| What are the units of voltage? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Voltage is measured in volts, which are joules per coulomb. |
| What does a voltmeter measure? – Written by Zoe Tov. | A voltmeter measures the potential difference between two points. |
| What are equipotential lines? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Equipotential lines show regions where electric potential is the same. |
| What do closely spaced equipotential lines indicate? – Written by Zoe Tov. | They indicate a strong electric field. |
| What equation relates energy and voltage? – Written by Zoe Tov. | The equation ΔE = qV shows how electric energy depends on charge and voltage. |
| What is a battery? – Written by Zoe Tov. | A battery is a device that provides and maintains a constant voltage. |
| Who invented the first battery? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Alessandro Volta invented the first battery. |
| What is direct current? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Direct current flows in one constant direction. |
| What is electric current measured in? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Electric current is measured in amperes. |
| What is one ampere? – Written by Zoe Tov. | One ampere equals one coulomb of charge passing a point each second. |
| Why can small electric currents be dangerous? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Even small currents can interfere with the body’s electrical signals, especially in the heart. |
| What does an EKG monitor? – Written by Zoe Tov. | An EKG monitors the changes in voltage across the body caused by the electrical signals sent by the heart to pump blood. |
| What is electrophysiology? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Electrophysiology is the study of the electrical activity of the human body, including how the heart, neurons, and other cells communicate electrically. |
| What did Galvani’s experiments show? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Galvani discovered that a strong electric jolt could make a dead body part move, inspiring early studies of bioelectricity. |
| How did Galvani’s work influence literature? – Written by Zoe Tov. | His experiments inspired Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, where electricity is used to reanimate a corpse. |
| What is Ohm’s Law? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Ohm’s Law is the equation I = V/R, relating current (I), voltage (V), and resistance (R) in a circuit. |
| What does resistance represent in Ohm’s Law? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Resistance is a measure of how much a material resists the flow of electric current, like friction for charges. |
| What are the units of resistance? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Resistance is measured in ohms, symbolized as Ω. |
| How does material affect resistance? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Conductive materials have low resistance, insulators have high resistance, and resistance can increase with length or temperature. |
| What is an Ohmic circuit? – Written by Zoe Tov. | An Ohmic circuit is one that obeys Ohm’s Law, where current and voltage are directly proportional. |
| Which is more dangerous: high voltage or high current? – Written by Zoe Tov. | High current is dangerous because it’s the actual flow of charge that affects the body, while high voltage is only dangerous if current can flow. |
| Why does a balloon generate high voltage but not shock you? – Written by Zoe Tov. | The balloon and air are insulators, so even though voltage is high, very little charge flows through you. |
| What creates the conditions for current in a circuit? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Voltage creates the conditions, while the actual flow of charge (current) affects objects and people. |
| What is power in physics? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Power is the rate of energy change over time, measured in watts (1 watt = 1 joule/second). |
| Why do wires heat up when current flows? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Moving charges encounter resistance, transferring energy into heat as atoms vibrate more rapidly. |
| What is a filament in a lightbulb? – Written by Zoe Tov. | The filament, usually tungsten, resists current, heats up, and glows to produce light. |
| Why is glass used in lightbulbs? – Written by Zoe Tov. | The glass protects people from touching the hot filament and contains the heat inside. |
| What does a kilowatt-hour measure? – Written by Zoe Tov. | A kilowatt-hour measures energy usage: 1 kWh = 3,600,000 joules, showing how much energy was consumed. |
| Do electrons move quickly through wires? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Electrons move randomly at millions of meters per second, but their net drift through the wire is very slow. |
| How is energy transferred in a circuit? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Energy is transferred almost instantly via the shifting electric field, like a line of dominoes falling. |
| Why does current heat a wire? – Written by Zoe Tov. | The flowing electrons make atoms vibrate more, raising temperature and increasing resistance. |
| What is a superconductor? – Written by Zoe Tov. | A superconductor is a material with zero resistance, allowing high currents to flow without energy loss, but usually requires extremely low temperatures. |
| What is the purpose of a resistor? – Written by Zoe Tov. | A resistor opposes current flow, converting energy into heat or powering devices like lightbulbs. |
| What is a series circuit? – Written by Zoe Tov. | In a series circuit, components are connected end-to-end, so the same current flows through each and total resistance adds up. |
| What is a parallel circuit? – Written by Zoe Tov. | In a parallel circuit, components are connected across multiple paths, reducing total resistance and allowing different currents through each branch. |
| How do you calculate total resistance in series? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Add all the resistances: R_total = R1 + R2 + R3 + … |
| How do you calculate total resistance in parallel? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Use the reciprocal sum: 1/R_total = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 + … |
| What happens when more resistors are added in series? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Total resistance increases, so current decreases. |
| What happens when more resistors are added in parallel? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Total resistance decreases, so total current increases, while current splits across branches. |
| Why are home outlets wired in parallel? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Parallel wiring ensures unplugging one device doesn’t stop current to others. |
| What is a fuse? – Written by Zoe Tov. | A fuse is a low-melting wire that stops current if it exceeds a safe level, preventing damage or fire. |
| What is a circuit breaker? – Written by Zoe Tov. | A circuit breaker is a metal switch that opens when current is too high, automatically stopping flow until it cools. |
| How is power related to current and voltage? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Power = Current × Voltage (P = IV), showing the rate of energy transfer in a circuit. |
| What is grounding in electrical safety? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Grounding provides a safe path for excess current to flow into the earth, protecting people from shocks. |
| What is a capacitor? – Written by Zoe Tov. | A capacitor is two conductors separated by a small distance, storing equal and opposite charges to hold voltage temporarily. |
| How does a Leyden jar work? – Written by Zoe Tov. | A Leyden jar is an early capacitor with metal foil inside and outside a jar, storing electrical charge separated by glass. |
| What is the difference between a capacitor and a battery? – Written by Zoe Tov. | A capacitor temporarily holds charge but cannot maintain voltage under continuous current like a battery. |
| What are common uses for capacitors? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Capacitors provide quick bursts of current (like camera flashes), store temporary data in RAM, or backup energy in electronics. |
| What affects a capacitor’s capacitance? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Capacitance depends on the size of the conductors, their distance apart, and the material between them. |
| How do capacitors work in keyboards or touchscreens? – Written by Zoe Tov. | Pressing a key or touching a screen changes capacitance, sending an electrical signal to the device. |
| What happens when the switch is opened on a capacitor connected to a battery? – Written by Zoe Tov | Current flows from one end of the capacitor to the other until the capacitor neutralizes. |
| Why does current stop flowing in a disconnected capacitor? – Written by Zoe Tov | Because the capacitor eventually becomes two neutral plates with no voltage difference. |
| What is the role of a dielectric in a capacitor? – Written by Zoe Tov | It increases the capacitor’s ability to store charge by creating an opposing electric field. |
| Can the voltage on a capacitor exceed the battery voltage? – Written by Zoe Tov | No, the voltage on a capacitor cannot exceed the battery that charged it. |
| What is the simplest form of a capacitor? – Written by Zoe Tov | Two metal plates separated by a vacuum or air. |
| How does a dielectric work inside a capacitor? – Written by Zoe Tov | The dielectric polarizes and creates an electric field opposing the capacitor’s field. |
| What is dielectric breakdown? – Written by Zoe Tov | When an insulator becomes a conductor due to a very high voltage or strong electric field. |
| What is the threshold for dielectric breakdown in air? – Written by Zoe Tov | About 3 megavolts. |
| Why are materials like paper or plastic used in capacitors? – Written by Zoe Tov | They have higher breakdown voltages, allowing more charge storage. |
| How does a static shock from a doorknob occur? – Written by Zoe Tov | The air breaks down, allowing charge to flow between your hand and the doorknob. |
| How does a lightning bolt form? – Written by Zoe Tov | A voltage difference between a cloud and ground becomes high enough to break down the air. |
| What does a lightning bolt neutralize? – Written by Zoe Tov | The excess charge between the cloud and the ground. |
| Why do you hear thunder after lightning? – Written by Zoe Tov | The air rapidly expands from being heated by the lightning current, creating a sonic boom. |
| Where is the safest place to be during a lightning storm? – Written by Zoe Tov | Indoors, in a building or a car. |
| How can you minimize current through your body if caught outside in a storm? – Written by Zoe Tov | Keep your feet close together and crouch to reduce potential difference. |
| Why should metal objects be avoided in a lightning storm? – Written by Zoe Tov | They can conduct charge and increase the risk of being struck. |
| What are transient luminous events (TLEs)? – Written by Zoe Tov | Electrical discharges above storm clouds similar to lightning, called sprites, elves, or jets. |
| Which planets besides Earth have lightning? – Written by Zoe Tov | Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn’s moon Titan. |
| What is energy measured in? – Written by Zoe Tov | Joules. |
| What is the electric potential difference? – Written by Zoe Tov | The voltage between two points, showing how much energy charged particles gain. |
| What is a battery’s role in a circuit? – Written by Zoe Tov | It maintains a voltage difference, allowing current to flow when connected. |
| What is current measured in? – Written by Zoe Tov | Amperes (coulombs per second). |
| What does Ohm’s law show? – Written by Zoe Tov | The relationship between current, voltage, and resistance. |
| What does a resistor do? – Written by Zoe Tov | It converts energy from current into other forms like heat or light. |
| What is power? – Written by Zoe Tov | The rate of energy transfer, measured in watts (joules per second). |
| What happens when resistors are connected in parallel? – Written by Zoe Tov | Total resistance decreases and total current increases. |
| What is a capacitor? – Written by Zoe Tov | Two conductors separated by a small distance that store charge temporarily. |
| How does a capacitor provide current? – Written by Zoe Tov | By releasing stored charge for a temporary burst. |
| What happens if a capacitor exceeds its charge limit? – Written by Zoe Tov | Dielectric breakdown occurs, releasing a sudden burst of current. |
| What are the two poles of a magnet called? – Written by Zoe Tov | North and South. |
| What happens if you cut a bar magnet in half? – Written by Zoe Tov | You get two smaller magnets, each with a north and south pole. |
| Why do nonmagnetic objects usually show no large-scale magnetism? – Written by Zoe Tov | Their atomic magnets are randomly oriented, canceling each other out. |
| What is the difference between ferromagnetic and paramagnetic materials? – Written by Zoe Tov | Ferromagnetic materials stay magnetized; paramagnetic only while an external field is present. |
| How can a paperclip become temporarily magnetic? – Written by Zoe Tov | In the presence of a strong magnet, its atoms align and it can pick up other clips. |
| Why do some bar magnets have a horseshoe shape? – Written by Zoe Tov | To have both poles point in the same direction, increasing magnetic attraction. |
| What produces magnetic fields? – Written by Zoe Tov | Moving electric charges (electrons and protons). |
| Why do stationary electrons not interact with magnetism? – Written by Zoe Tov | Magnetic forces only act on moving charges. |
| How is the magnetic field oriented relative to a moving charge? – Written by Zoe Tov | Perpendicular to the direction of motion. |
| Why do magnetic field lines form closed loops? – Written by Zoe Tov | Magnetic fields have no monopoles, so lines always loop from north to south. |
| If current flows toward you in a wire, which way do magnetic field lines circle? – Written by Zoe Tov | Counterclockwise around the wire. |
| What does the right-hand rule help you determine? – Written by Zoe Tov | It helps you predict the direction of the magnetic field relative to the current. |
| If your thumb points in the direction of current, which way do your fingers curl? – Written by Zoe Tov | They curl in the direction of the magnetic field. |
| How can a wire create loops of a magnetic field? – Written by Zoe Tov | A current flowing through a wire generates a circular magnetic field around it. |
| Is magnetic force considered a fundamental force like gravity or electric force? – Written by Zoe Tov | No, it arises from moving electric charges and depends on the observer’s frame of reference. |
| Why is the concept of “moving” important in magnetic force? – Written by Zoe Tov | Because what counts as moving depends on the observer’s frame of reference. |
| How does motion appear from different observers? – Written by Zoe Tov | Motion is relative; different observers may measure different speeds for the same object. |
| What does tossing a coin on a moving train demonstrate? – Written by Zoe Tov | It shows that motion is relative, as the coin lands back in your hand despite the train moving. |
| How is speed measured relative to different observers? – Written by Zoe Tov | It depends on the chosen frame of reference, like the ground or another moving object. |
| How fast is someone actually moving? – Written by Zoe Tov | There is no absolute speed; it depends entirely on the observer’s perspective. |
| What happens to the observation of a magnetic field if the observer moves with the electrons? – Written by Zoe Tov | The observer may see no magnetic field because the electrons appear stationary. |
| Does the magnetic force appear the same for all observers? – Written by Zoe Tov | No, it depends on the observer’s frame of reference relative to moving charges. |
| Can all observers agree on the existence of a force acting on a moving particle? – Written by Zoe Tov | Yes, all observers must agree on the force experienced by the particle. |
| How does a proton experience a magnetic force? – Written by Zoe Tov | A proton moving through a magnetic field experiences a force perpendicular to its velocity and the field. |
| What is a compass needle attracted to? – Written by Zoe Tov | The north end of a compass is attracted to Earth’s magnetic south pole. |
| Why does a compass needle rotate rather than fly off toward the pole? – Written by Zoe Tov | Because opposite poles pull and repel equally, causing rotation until aligned. |
| Which pole is at the Arctic in terms of magnetism? – Written by Zoe Tov | Earth’s magnetic south pole is near the Arctic. |
| How is Earth’s magnetic field generated? – Written by Zoe Tov | By electric currents in the molten metal core caused by Earth’s spinning. |
| Why don’t magnetic poles perfectly align with Earth’s rotation poles? – Written by Zoe Tov | The dynamo process is chaotic, causing the poles to wander slightly. |
| What does seafloor spreading reveal about Earth’s magnetic history? – Written by Zoe Tov | Rocks retain the magnetic polarity from when they solidified, showing historical reversals. |
| What are coronal mass ejections (CMEs)? – Written by Zoe Tov | Large chunks of the Sun’s surface ejected into space due to twisted magnetic fields. |
| What effect do CMEs have when they hit Earth? – Written by Zoe Tov | They can cause auroras and electrical disturbances like telegraph fires. |
| What is solar wind? – Written by Zoe Tov | A constant stream of charged particles (electrons and protons) from the Sun. |
| How does Earth’s magnetic field protect the planet? – Written by Zoe Tov | It deflects charged particles from the Sun, reducing harm to the surface. |
| How are aurora colors produced? – Written by Zoe Tov | Ions in the atmosphere capture electrons, releasing energy as colored light depending on the gas. |
| Which gases produce green and purple auroras? – Written by Zoe Tov | Oxygen produces green, and hydrogen produces purple. |
| Do other planets experience auroras? – Written by Zoe Tov | Yes, Jupiter and Saturn have auroras due to strong magnetic fields. |
| Which inner planet has a strong magnetic field? – Written by Zoe Tov | Earth; Mars’s magnetic field is weak. |
| How might Mars have lost its water? – Written by Zoe Tov | Its weak magnetic field allowed solar wind to strip away the atmosphere and water. |
| Where are the strongest magnetic fields in nature found? – Written by Zoe Tov | In neutron stars, the cores of massive collapsed stars. |
| How fast do neutron stars rotate? – Written by Zoe Tov | Some rotate hundreds of times per second. |
| What is the result of a neutron star’s strong magnetic field on nearby objects? – Written by Zoe Tov | Charged particles accelerate violently, and objects would disintegrate. |
| When does a particle experience no magnetic force? – Written by Zoe Tov | When the particle’s velocity v is zero relative to the magnetic field. |
| How does Earth’s magnetic field strength compare to 1 Tesla? – Written by Zoe Tov | Earth’s field is much weaker, ranging from 25 to 65 microTeslas. |
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