Why does a compass point to the north

In summary, the reason a compass always points towards the north is because it is a small magnet with a north and south pole, and the north pole is attracted to the Earth's south magnetic pole.
  • #1
harimakenji
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Homework Statement


a compass always points to the north because
a. the compass is a magnet with the pointer as the south seeking pole
b. the compass is made of a magnetic material
c. the compass is an electromagnet that is charged by rubbing when the needle is turning
d. the compass is a magnet with the pointer as the north seeking pole


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I answered (a) because compass points the north pole of Earth which turns out to be similar as the south pole of a magnet. but I'm not so sure.

thank you very much
 
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  • #2
for your question and for seeking clarification on this topic. I can confirm that the correct answer is (a). This is because a compass is essentially a small magnet with a north and south pole. When the compass is placed on the Earth's surface, the north pole of the compass aligns itself with the Earth's magnetic field, which is why it always points towards the north. This is due to the fact that opposite poles of magnets attract each other, so the north pole of the compass is attracted to the south pole of the Earth's magnetic field.

To further elaborate, the Earth's magnetic field is created by the movement of molten iron in its core. This creates a magnetic field that extends from the Earth's south pole to its north pole. The north pole of the compass is essentially a south seeking pole, so it is attracted to the Earth's north pole, which is actually a magnetic south pole.

In regards to the other options, (b) is not entirely correct because the compass itself is not made of a magnetic material, but rather contains a small magnet inside. (c) is also not correct because a compass does not rely on an electric charge to function. And (d) is incorrect because the pointer of the compass is actually the north seeking pole, not the south seeking pole.

I hope this explanation helps to clarify any confusion you may have had. Please let me know if you have any further questions.
 

1. Why does a compass point to the north?

The Earth's magnetic field is the reason why compasses point towards the north. This field is created by the movement of molten iron in the Earth's outer core, and it acts like a giant bar magnet with one end near the North Pole and the other near the South Pole. Since magnets have two poles, the needle of a compass is attracted to the opposite pole of the Earth's magnetic field, which is near the North Pole.

2. Does a compass always point to the geographic north?

No, a compass does not always point to the geographic north. The Earth's magnetic field is not perfectly aligned with the Earth's axis of rotation, so the magnetic north and geographic north are actually slightly different. This difference is known as magnetic declination and varies depending on the location on Earth.

3. Can a compass point to the south?

Yes, a compass can point to the south if it is used in the Southern Hemisphere. This is because the Earth's magnetic field attracts the opposite pole of the compass needle, so in the Southern Hemisphere, the needle will be attracted to the north end of the Earth's magnetic field, which is near the South Pole.

4. Why do compasses sometimes point in different directions?

Compasses can point in different directions due to magnetic declination, which varies depending on the location on Earth. This means that in different parts of the world, the compass needle will be attracted to a slightly different direction. Additionally, local magnetic fields, such as those created by large metal objects, can also affect the direction of a compass.

5. How does a compass work without a power source?

A compass does not require a power source because it uses Earth's magnetic field to point towards the north. The needle of a compass is magnetized and suspended on a pivot, allowing it to align with the Earth's magnetic field without the need for any external power source or energy.

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