phinds said:the statement is nonsensical ... it will NOT turn right unless that's where the magnet makes it turn ... move the magnet to the left and the needle moves to the left
The Earth has a magnetic field, and the compass needle aligns with this field, which is strongest at the North and South poles. This causes the needle to always point towards the magnetic north.
This is due to the Earth's rotation. As the Earth rotates counterclockwise, the magnetic field shifts slightly to the right, causing the compass needle to also turn to the right.
Yes, the compass can point south if you are in the Southern Hemisphere. In this case, the magnetic field will cause the compass needle to point towards the magnetic south.
No, the compass points to magnetic north, which is slightly different from true north. The angle between magnetic north and true north is called magnetic declination and varies depending on your location.
A compass works by using a magnetized needle that aligns with the Earth's magnetic field. The red end of the needle is marked as north, and the other end is marked as south. The needle will always point towards the poles of the Earth's magnetic field.