Question

why does a magnetic compass needle points towards north and south in the absence of a near by magnet get deflected when a bar magnet

Answer 1

Dear student,

1) The alignment of a freely suspended magnet is influenced by the earth’s magnetic field. Our earth is assumed to have a strong magnet with its south pole near the geographic North Pole and the north pole of the magnet near the geographic South Pole. This is why when a magnet is freely suspended; the north pole of the magnet points towards the geographic north pole of earth and south pole of the magnet points the geographic South Pole.

Regards