In October, Grade 10 students in Matthew Sagotsky’s chemistry course delved into a central question of their unit study: How can we determine the atmosphere on different planets without actually going there?

The Chemistry Behind the Aurora Borealis

As students investigated the science behind the aurora borealis, a natural light display in Earth’s sky, they discovered that understanding this natural phenomenon required explorations of both chemistry and how various cultures interpreted this natural phenomenon. The class began by viewing a video of Saturn’s northern lights and analyzing data on the atmospheric composition of various planets. Sagotsky shared that students may have noticed, for example, that both Venus and Mars appear red and both have extremely high levels of CO₂. They also examined how the different colors present in the auroras may signal the presence of different gases.

To Answer the Question…

To make sense of these observations, students developed models of the electromagnetic spectrum and the atom, Sagotsky explained. “Turns out,” he continued, “that unique molecules have unique atomic spectra tied to their electron configurations. Each gas produces a distinct set of allowed energy transitions: essentially, its own spectral ‘fingerprint.’” In the lab, students used tools similar to prisms to observe the spectra of noble gases. “They discovered that these gases aren’t just different colors; each produces light made up of uniquely spaced wavelengths. By understanding these spectral signatures, students learned how scientists can identify the gases present in distant atmospheres, revealing the composition of worlds we may never visit.”

Class Projects on Northern Lights

At the unit’s conclusion, in addition to explaining the science behind the northern lights, students created brochures that also highlighted different cultural explanations for the northern lights. The result of both requirements of the project lended itself to deeper engagement in students, allowing them to find connections to the materials based on what interested them most from the colors of the aurora borealis to the cultural significance of the lights themselves, as good or bad omens. 

Caroline Nemeth ’28 shared how the class progressed toward their northern lights project. “We focused on what makes up Earth’s atmosphere, examining the colors different gases emit and building models to represent those reactions,” she explained. The day before the project was due, students worked in groups to create comprehensive models that pulled together all the concepts they had learned throughout the unit.

What stood out most to Nemeth, however, was not just the science. “I was surprised by all the cultural explanations people around the world have for the northern lights,” she said, noting how the stories were both different and connected in meaningful ways. She added that she’ll “always remember the significance of the varying colors in the aurora, especially how some hues are rarer than others because of the unique makeup of our atmosphere.”

Hannah Bienvenu ’28 enjoyed discovering the why, where, and how the northern lights get their striking colors. “Learning about the different energy levels and different states of electrons was particularly intriguing to me along with the visible line spectrum which ties into that. I enjoy learning in Mr. Sagotsky’s class because I am provided with a lot of practice and sources to become comfortable with each topic. I especially enjoy all the labs we do as they give us a better understanding on how everything works.” 

“I enjoyed learning about what the northern lights meant to different tribes,” said Caleb Cuti ’28. “I found it super interesting to see how even [geographically] close tribes had opposing perspectives on the lights. For example, some [tribes] saw it as a bad omen while others saw it as a good one. In class, we conducted a few different labs which helped us to see the same gases as those found in the auroras up close. Mr. Sagotsky’s class has been one of my favorites this year, and I’m looking forward to learning more.”