Why does a magnet attract the north end of a compass?

[j doe]

when a magnet attracts the north end of a compass, what does that mean?

 

[ProfuselyQuarky]

What do you think it means?

 

[j doe]

that the part of the magnet that attracts north is also the north pole of the magnet

 

[davenn]

that the part of the magnet that attracts north is also the north pole of the magnet

no, try again
remember the ol' rule about "opposites attract"

 

[j doe]

oh okay so the side that the magnet attracts north on a compass is the south pole of the magnet?

 

[jbriggs444]

oh okay so the side that the magnet attracts north on a compass is the south pole of the magnet?

Yes. We call the Earth's magnetic north pole a north pole because it is in the north. We call a magnet's north pole a north pole because it is attracted to the Earth's north pole.

But opposites attract. The Earth's "north" pole (in the sense of geography) is its "south" pole (in the sense of how we would label it if it were just another magnet).

 

[ProfuselyQuarky]

oh okay so the side that the magnet attracts north on a compass is the south pole of the magnet?

Well done! See, it just required a bit of grey matter