Earth's magnetic field is actually relatively weak?

A bunch of particles of negative charge fly into the earths magnetic field then_______________________?

• A bunch of particles of negative charge fly into the earths magnetic field then_______________________ A) Finally, these particles will be distributed uniformly on the surface of the earth B) Finally, these particles will be captured near the equator. C) Finally, half of them will be captured near the North Pole and half of them will be captured near the South Pole. D) Finally, most of the particles will be captured near the North Pole. E) Finally, most of the particles will be captured near the South Pole.

• Answer:

  (D) Most will be captured near the South Pole. The Sorth Pole is actually the end of the Earth "magnet" that is positively charged. This is kind of ironic, because by scientific definition, that's completely backwards. Unfortunately, people were calling it the North Pole long before the realization that magnets had poles (or what Earth's magnetic field even is), and so it's stuck. North is supposed to be positive, south negative... but oops, well, now we have to stick with it. Sort of like how they got electric current flow wrong, too. Gotta live with the past, because it's never going to change. Anyway, those negatively charge particles will be attracted to the positive (because opposites always attract), and will create the beautiful Aurora Australis.