Question

In which sentence should Erin add a definition to help clarify her ideas?

a) The northern lights are colorful swirls of light that flicker in the nighttime sky in the upper part of the northern hemisphere.
b) This natural occurrence happens when fast-moving, electrically charged particles (electrons) from space collide with the oxygen and nitrogen gas in our atmosphere.
c) When billions of these collisions occur and enough photons are released, the oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere let out enough light for the eye to detect it.
d) The color of the northern lights depends on which gas is being excited by the electrons and on how much energy is being exchanged.

Answer 1

Erin should add a definition to sentence (b) to explain what ions are, as they are essential to the phenomenon of the northern lights or aurora borealis.

Step-by-step explanation:

In which sentence should Erin add a definition to help clarify her ideas? The sentence that could use a definition for clarity is (b): "This natural occurrence happens when fast-moving, electrically charged particles (electrons) from space collide with the oxygen and nitrogen gas in our atmosphere."

Although this sentence provides a technical description, Erin could enhance understanding by explaining what ions are since they play a crucial role in the aurora borealis. A possible addition could be: "These charged particles, known as ions, are atoms or molecules that have lost or gained electrons, resulting in a net electric charge." The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are a vivid demonstration of how these ions, guided by Earth's magnetic field, interact with our atmosphere and create a spectacular light show.