Question

A company that made scientific instruments designed a magnetic compass shown here, and sold it in the market. However, customers complained that the compass did not show that direction correctly.



The company tested the compasses and found that the needle did not point in any one direction. On further testing, it was properly magnetized and freely pivoted. They could not understand what was wrong. Can you?

Answer 1

The needle of magnetic compass points in the north-south direction provided it is not in contact with another magnet or other magnetic materials. The company found the needle freely pivoted and properly magnetized but still it was not able to show the direction properly. The reason behind is that the container of the given compass is made of steel, which is a magnetic material. The magnetic behavior of the steel is disturbing the magnetic behavior of the compass, that's why it is not able to show the direction properly.