Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne cosmic rays 
Name: delappkc
Status: N/a
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: Around 1993
Question:
What energy range are cosmic rays in are cosmic rays in when they hit the earth? Does the rate of cosmic rays hitting the earth change over time , if so how?


Replies:
As far as I know, cosmic rays come in just about any energy range, up to extremely high energies (higher than anything that can be produced in an accelerator on earth). That is before they hit the atmosphere though. By the time they reach the ground I think most of the high energy ones have scattered to produce secondary "showers". The rate of cosmic ray influx does change with time - specifically with the solar cycle. When the sun is active, cosmic rays are not, and vice versa.

A. Smith

Actually, when the sun is active, it sends out streams of high energy protons. These cause the Aurora borealis in the northern hemisphere and present a serious radiation hazard to astronauts.

John Hawley



Click here to return to the Physics Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory