2007-06-09 20:43:40 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Particles from the sun striking the upper atmosphere and ionizing the O2,N2 etc...
2007-06-09 20:54:30 · answer #1 · answered by MarkG 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Charged particles from the sun reach the earth's magnetic field. Charged particles move in a helical path around magnetic field lines. You can do a search on magnetic force on charged particles. The stream of charged particles end up corkscrewing along the Earth's magnetic field lines, and as they pass through the earth's atmosphere they ionize the atoms in the atmosphere.
Lightning is an example of light being created when ions blast through the atmosphere.
2007-06-10 05:06:04 · answer #2 · answered by Dennis H 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
particles and ions in the earths atmosphere become trapped in the earth's magnetic field and as they collide with air they are ionised and emit light, producing the beautiful lights we see in the sky.
2007-06-10 04:46:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋