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Effect
of Earth's Magnetic Field
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Moving
charges make magnetic fields
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Magnetic
fields make charges move
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Solar
wind composed of fast moving protons and electrons (400 km/s)
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If
magnetic fields make charges move, why does the solar wind slow down when
it hits the Earth's magnetic field?
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Resulting
cavity in solar wind called magnetosphere
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Magnetopause
is balance point between magnetic field and solar wind
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Some
solar wind charged particles leak through magnetopause
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accumulate
in Van Allen belts
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cause
Aurora Borealis (northern lights)
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Aurora
Australis (southern lights)
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Aurora
seen on Jupiter and Saturn
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Aurora
formed when solar wind protons (directed by the Earth's magnetic field)
slam into the atmosphere
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effect
is similar to neon light/spectrum tube
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