How does a compass work? Is its needle only a magnet or even the north pole marked on the compass is a magnet ?
How does a compass work? Is its needle only a magnet or even the north pole marked on the compass is a magnet ?
A magnetic compass is basically a needle made up of a magnetic substance which responds (moves) in the presence of magnetic fields. The needle is placed such that it is free to move in the horizontal plane along the vertical axis. The needle is kept in an enclosure with a transparent glass top.
It is normally used to detect the presence of electromagnetic fields or for navigation with respect to the Earth's magnetic poles.
Procedure to make a compass:-
(1) Take a needle of around one inch. Rub it against a magnet, rubbing should be in one direction.
(2) Get a piece of cork. It should be dry and clean.
(3) Stick the needle across cork. Be care full because the needle is sharp and you could injure yourself.
(4) Place the needle and cork in a glass of water, so piece of cork is able to float.
(5) Add some water to it, then wait to stabilize it you will find that stopped needle pointing north direction
A magnetic compass works on this principle because the earth is considered as a huge bar magnet with its North and South poles aligned along the geographical South and North Poles respectively. Hence, the North pole of the magnetized needle in a magnetic compass is attracted towards earth’s geographic North Pole and the South pole of the magnetized needle is attracted towards earth’s geographic South Pole. Hence, the magnetized needle of a magnetic compass always aligns itself along the North-South direction.
A magnetic compass is basically a needle made up of a magnetic substance which responds (moves) in the presence of magnetic fields. The needle is placed such that it is free to move in the horizontal plane along the vertical axis. The needle is kept in an enclosure with a transparent glass top.
It is normally used to detect the presence of electromagnetic fields or for navigation with respect to the Earth's magnetic poles.
Procedure to make a compass:-
(1) Take a needle of around one inch. Rub it against a magnet, rubbing should be in one direction.
(2) Get a piece of cork. It should be dry and clean.
(3) Stick the needle across cork. Be care full because the needle is sharp and you could injure yourself.
(4) Place the needle and cork in a glass of water, so piece of cork is able to float.
(5) Add some water to it, then wait to stabilize it you will find that stopped needle pointing north direction
A magnetic compass works on this principle because the earth is considered as a huge bar magnet with its North and South poles aligned along the geographical South and North Poles respectively. Hence, the North pole of the magnetized needle in a magnetic compass is attracted towards earth’s geographic North Pole and the South pole of the magnetized needle is attracted towards earth’s geographic South Pole. Hence, the magnetized needle of a magnetic compass always aligns itself along the North-South direction.
