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)?

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 0.002, since G5 storms are more common
   • About 425
9. 7.

   150 million km; CME speed 750 km/s. A CME travels 150 million km at 750 km/s. About how long does it take to reach Earth, by Tala's math?

   • About 56 days
   • About 5.6 hours
   • About 8 minutes
   • About 2.3 days
10. 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?

    • Auroras touch the lines
    • Storm currents overhead are strongest there, and long lines pick up more
    • It is colder there, so the wires shrink
    • Sunspots sit above the poles
11. 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?

    • No change; flares do not depend on sunspots
    • More flares at minimum, when spots are fewest
    • More flares and CMEs, so more space weather
    • Fewer flares, since sunspots are hot
12. 10.

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

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