How Can You Make a Compass Without Iron?

[chase222]

How can you make a compass without using iron or other ferromagnetic material?

At first, I thought to use a needle, but I was told that that was steel, and therefore iron. Any ideas?

 

[thomas576]

hmm

i seem to remember a plastic rod that someone charged with wool hanging on a thread or something I am sorry i don't remember more but wouldn't the charge attract to something?

 

[dextercioby]

We're talking about the interaction between Earth's magnetic field and the needle of the compass.Ferromagnetic substances have such an internal structure that allows to have a nonzero macroscopical magnetization,even in the absence of an external magnetic field.Therefore,they're really suited for compass needles.

Daniel.

 

[saltydog]

How can you make a compass without using iron or other ferromagnetic material?

At first, I thought to use a needle, but I was told that that was steel, and therefore iron. Any ideas?

Well, I'm not one for answering physics questions but can't you connect a copper wire in the form of a loop to battery terminals, hang it, and it will orientate itself in the Earth's magnetic field? However, it's dangerous since the battery can explode with the large current discharging. Or should I just stick to math?