Sunspots, the solar cycle and space weather

Grade 9 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   SWPC sees a fast CME leave the Sun toward Earth. About how much warning can that give, by Esme's reading (NOAA)?

   • About 15 hours to a few days
   • No warning; CMEs arrive at once
   • About 8 minutes, at light speed
   • About 11 years

2. Read this first

   NOAA G4 (severe)

   System	Possible effect
   power systems	voltage control problems
   spacecraft	surface charging and tracking problems
   aurora	seen as low as Alabama and northern California

3. 2.

   SWPC issues a G4 storm watch. Who uses it, and how, by Jun's reading?

   • Sky watchers in Alaska expect fewer auroras than usual
   • Farmers protect crops from the heat
   • Grid and satellite operators prepare their systems
   • People board up windows against wind
4. 3.

   Map of the United States with the G1 aurora line across northern Michigan and Maine. A G1 storm is forecast. One cousin lives in northern Maine, another in Florida. Who is more likely to see an aurora, by Kira's reading (NOAA)?

   • The cousin in northern Maine
   • Both, equally
   • Neither; auroras need a G5 storm
   • The cousin in Florida, since G1 pushes auroras south
5. 4.

   Milo's cousin says auroras are sunlight reflecting off Arctic ice. Which response is best (NOAA)?

   • Agree: that is why they are near the poles
   • Disagree: they are city lights on clouds
   • Agree: they are brightest at noon
   • Disagree: electrons striking gas 80 to 500 km up make them glow
6. 5.

   Noah's friend says solar maximum is when the Sun has the fewest sunspots. Which response is best?

   • Disagree: sunspot numbers stay level through the cycle
   • Agree: the Sun is quietest at maximum
   • Agree: maximum comes once a year
   • Disagree: maximum is the peak of sunspot activity

7. NOAA G scale

   Level	Average per 11-year cycle
   G1	1,700
   G5	4

8. 6.

   NOAA's averages are about 1,700 G1 storms and about 4 G5 storms per 11-year cycle. About how many G1 storms are there for each G5, by Pia's math?

   • About 4
   • About 1,700
   • About 425
   • About 0.002, since G5 storms are more common

9. Satellite height lost per month (model data)

   Sun	Height lost
   solar minimum	0.5 km
   solar maximum	2 km

10. 7.

    How many times faster does the satellite lose height at solar maximum than at minimum, by Ren's math?

    • About 1.5 times
    • About 4 times
    • About 2 times
    • It is slower at maximum
11. 8.

    Map with the auroral zone near the pole and long power lines crossing it. NOAA says high-latitude power systems feel storms first. Why are long lines there affected most, by Zee's reading?

    • Sunspots sit above the poles
    • Storm currents overhead are strongest there, and long lines pick up more
    • Auroras touch the lines
    • It is colder there, so the wires shrink
12. 9.

    NOAA says fast-changing magnetic fields in sunspot groups are the likeliest sources of flares and CMEs. Which prediction fits solar maximum, by Ari's reading?

    • More flares and CMEs, so more space weather
    • More flares at minimum, when spots are fewest
    • Fewer flares, since sunspots are hot
    • No change; flares do not depend on sunspots
13. 10.

    Four lists, labeled A to D. Which list names what space weather mostly affects, by Bo's reading (NOAA)?

    • Earthquakes and volcanoes
    • Power grids, satellites, radio and GPS
    • Rain, snow and wind
    • Ocean tides and waves