Magnetic Shock (Season 2)

Sunspots

Sunspots

Virgil and Ruby were at Dakota Union High in Mr. McGill's classroom with Richie and Allie as they and the other students were watching a video from a small TV that was on a rolling cart. The screen revealed the sun as it got bigger and unleashed solar flares. Ruby and Allie were sitting at a table close to Virgil and Richie's table on the left.

"This might look like the inside of a volcano, but it's actually a huge disturbance on the sun's surface called the sunspot." Mr. McGill explained as the TV showed the sun's surface up close before he turned off the TV.

"Sunspots can have unpredictable effects on radio waves, TV signals, magnetic energy, and even certain electromagnetic devices here on Earth." Mr. McGill continued as one student yawned and rubbed his eye.

While many of the students were feeling bored, Ruby was one of the only students who weren't bored since science is her favorite subject as she raised her hand.

"Yes, Ms. Hawkins?" Mr. McGill asked as Ruby put her hand down.

"Well, Mr. McGill. I've heard that solar flares are created when the lines of the sun's magnetic field near sunspots are tangled, crossed, or reorganized." Ruby explained.

"That's correct. All planets, moons, asteroids, and comets are surrounded by a magnetic field, even stars like the sun." Mr. McGill said.

"In fact, we're entering a sunspot cycle right now." Mr. McGill said.

"Can anyone tell me how long it will last?" Mr. McGill asked as Richie was playing tic-tac-toe on a piece of paper.

"Mr. Foley?" Mr. McGill asked.

"Yo." Richie said in shock as he dropped his pencil and looked at Mr. McGill.

"Uh, me?" Richie asked in shock as he put his hands on his chest.

"Uh, no-no, not really." Richie answered as he held his hands close to his chest.

"That's absolutely correct." Mr. McGill said as Richie put his hands on the desk.

"It is?" Richie asked.

"Yes, because no one can say for sure when a sunspot cycle is going to start or stop." Mr. McGill explained.

"And since you all seem so fascinated with this, tonight's homework will be pages 40 through 67." Mr. McGill said.

"Aw." The students whined.

"(Sigh) Another day, another boring homework assignment." Allie said with a bored expression as she laid her hand on her cheek and laid her other hand on the desk with her eyes squinted.

"Don't worry, Allie. I'm sure you'll be able to do it and pass this class." Ruby said as she looked at Allie.

"Thanks." Allie said with a smile as she looked at Ruby while sitting straight and took her hand off her cheek before they looked at Virgil and Richie.

Virgil was looking through the window while Richie looked at him.

"Same old equation, a hot day plus a couple of burgers at lunch plus a really dull lecture equals..." Richie said as Virgil kept looking through the window with Ruby's eyes widening while hearing sirens blaring.

"Virgil? What's out there?" Richie asked as he looked at Virgil.

"What's going on out there, Ruby?" Allie asked as she looked at Ruby.

Ruby looked at the window to see smoke from the distance as Richie and Allie looked out the window.

"I sense some magnetic fields at the distance and from that big cloud of smoke, it looks like there's a fire." Ruby said.