Space Weather quiz

More questions about Space Weather

These visible examples show the question style. LearnClash turns the full topic into ranked duels and spaced repetition.

1. 1 Easy

   Which subatomic particle makes up most of the solar wind?

   Answer: Protons

   Why: The solar wind carries roughly one billion kilograms of protons and electrons away from the Sun every second.

2. 2 Medium

   How often does the Sun's magnetic field completely flip its polarity?

   Answer: Every 11 years

   Why: The flip happens at solar maximum, so the Sun needs two cycles, about 22 years, to get back to its original polarity.

3. 3 Hard

   What phenomenon causes GPS signals to delay during solar storms?

   Answer: Total Electron Content

   Why: Because the delay depends on frequency, two-band receivers cancel it; ignoring the electron count can shift a GPS fix by tens of metres.

4. 4 Easy

   Which animal uses Earth’s magnetic field to find its way home?

   Answer: pigeons

   Why: Homing pigeons mix magnetic cues with a sun compass and airborne odours, and a 2012 Nature study ruled out the iron cells in their beaks.

5. 5 Medium

   Which space weather event reaches Earth at the speed of light?

   Answer: Solar flares

   Why: A flare's light crosses 150 million km in about 8 minutes, while the plasma cloud behind it needs 15 hours to several days.

6. 6 Hard

   What provides the primary energy for Earth's magnetospheric storms?

   Answer: Magnetic reconnection

   Why: Reconnection fires when the Sun's field turns south: the stretched magnetotail snaps 20 to 30 Earth radii out, powering storms and auroras.