Question

A compass has a small balanced pointer that always points North-South. This is because:

• A. Gravity makes the needle point this way
• B. The compass needle points to cold places
• C. The earth has a magnetic field and the pointer is magnetic
• D. The stars exert a force on the needle

Answer 1

The correct option is C

The earth has a magnetic field and the pointer is magnetic

The earth behaves as a big magnet with its south pole located near the geographical north pole and vice versa. Since, like poles attract and unlike repel, when a magnet is suspended freely, the north pole of the magnet will point towards south pole of the earth's magnet which is located near the geographical north pole.