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Is the North Pole the only magnetic pole of the earth?
Sherryannsmiles
The north pole of a compass needle points to a location we call 'Magnetic North'
to distinguish it from 'True North'. Since 'unlike poles attract', the magnetic
polarity of Magnetic North is obviously south.
But when we talk about the Earth's 'north pole' or 'south pole', we're almost
always talking about the poles of its rotation, at 90° north and south latitude.
Those points have no connection to the north and south magnetic poles, and
compasses don't point to them.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoNo magnetic north (compass) is slightly different than true north (pole). When you get north on a compass it is really pointing to a field of magnetic rocks in Canada. When you get a topographic map (a map that can be used with a compass it will have true and magnetic norths marked on it so that you may adjust your compass to make sure you will arrive at your destination.
CommentNo, a compass doesn't really point to a 'field of magnetic rocks in Canada'. It simply aligns itself with the earth's magnetic field, which 'enters' the earth near the Geographic North Pole, and 'exits' the earth near the Geographic South Pole. The reason for this is that the earth's magma behaves rather like a huge bar magnet buried deep in the earth and slightly displaced from the True N-S axis.Wiki User
∙ 13y agoUh, no. Their are three kinds of norths you normally deal with. There is magnetic north, this is where a compass points towards. There is grid north. This is where a map, which is only a representation of the earth's surface drawn to scale and placed on a flat surface, tells you where north is. And last but not least and not the same as either one of the previous two is true north. The actuall physical place where true north is located. The south pole is not magnetic north. But, just to mess with your head, the poles have switched several times in the earth's history and certainly will again. So, the south pole will become magnetic north in say a half million years.
CommentWhy do people get confused over this topic? Is it due to pathetically-bad science teaching?Magnetic North is a LOCATION (or, more accurately, a direction), not a magnetic polarity. As this location attracts the north(-seeking) pole of a compass, its magnetic polarity is south (unlike poles attract).
Once again... PLEASE DO NOT CONFUSE A LOCATION ('Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South') WITH A MAGNETIC POLARITY -THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS!.Wiki User
∙ 15y agoNo. All magnets (including the Earth) have two poles; a north and a south.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoFalse - the South pole is the other magnetic pole on the Earth.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoYes, both sides are magnetic, unless you bang it like a thousand times on the ground.
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Why does the compas always point in the same direction?
The terms, 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South', are used to distinguish these locations from 'True North' and 'True South'. It's very important to understand that they do not refer to the magnetic polarity at these locations. Unlike True North and True South, the actual locations of Magnetic North and Magnetic South vary over time.The ends of a magnet or compass needle are named after the directions in which they point (or, more accurately, the direction of the field along which they align) and, originally, were referred to as their 'North-seeking' and 'South-seeking' poles. The terms 'seeking' are now considered archaic and are no longer used, but the remaining terms 'north' and 'south', by convention, also define their magnetic polarities.In accordance with the law that 'like poles repel while unlike poles attract', this means that the magnetic polarity of 'Magnetic North' is actually a south, while the magnetic polarity of 'Magnetic South' is a north. In other words, the earth behaves as though there was a giant bar magnet, buried deep within its crust, whose south pole is located in the Northern Hemisphere and whose north pole is located in the Southern Hemisphere.Any answers that suggest that the 'North-seeking' pole of a compass is really a 'south' pole is completely incorrect and indicates a lack of understanding of the behaviour of magnets.Additional Comment[On modern maps, the north is at the top of the map. This was not always so, and in early times, the east was at the top. For sunrise was a reliable indicator. Hence the term 'to orient your map'. From the Latin oriens, literally rising. Similar conventions occur in several languages. And the Latin for Occident means 'setting'.]
How is compass used for finding directions at unknown places?
It is basically a magnet and it will point to the magnetic pole (north) The compass is magnetized and the poles of the earth emit magnetic waves what attrach the needle in the compass to point away from South and towards North
Where is it possible for a person to walk one kilometer south one kilometer east and one kilometer north and end up in the exact same place?
Either the north or south pole. It would have to be the north pole. You can't walk south from the south pole. Using cardinal directions as a guide you can walk south from the south pole. Using general directions it could only be the north pole.
Are bar magnets stronger than horseshoe magnets?
There are some variables like what the magnet is made of and how it was initially magnetized. If a bar magnet is bent into a horseshoe shape to make a horseshoe magnet, the magnetic field will be more dense (stronger) across the gap of the horseshoe magnet than it would have been anywhere around the bar magnet from which it was made. And since magnets are strongest at their poles, horseshoe magnets can use both their poles at once while bar magnets can only use one pole at a time.
Is rust magnetic?
Iron Oxide is not magenetic, only pure iron, nickel, cobalt, and steel can be magnetic.
Which pole of a compass magnet is attracted to earth's magnetic north pole?
The pole of the compass that is attracted to the earth's magnetic north pole must be a south magnetic pole. But here's the thing. In the compass, the south magnetic pole of the needle is marked "N" because that end of the compass needle points to earth's magnetic north. The only way the needle can point to earth's magnetic north is if that end of the needle, the one marked with an "N" on it, is a magnetic south pole. It almost seems counter intuitive, but think it through and it will become clear.
Which pole of a compass magnet is attracted to Earth's magnetic north pole?
The pole of the compass that is attracted to the earth's magnetic north pole must be a south magnetic pole. But here's the thing. In the compass, the south magnetic pole of the needle is marked "N" because that end of the compass needle points to earth's magnetic north. The only way the needle can point to earth's magnetic north is if that end of the needle, the one marked with an "N" on it, is a magnetic south pole. It almost seems counter intuitive, but think it through and it will become clear.
Why is a North Pole of a compass attracted to the North Pole of the Earth?
actually the north pole of our earth(considering it as a big bar magnet) is the geographic south pole.Its called so because it lies on the northern hemisphere.Actually it is the south pole of our big bar magnetAdditional AnswerThe north magnetic pole of a compass needle points to Magnetic North. "Magnetic North" is so-called to differentiate it from "True North", and has nothing whatsoever to do with its magnetic polarity. Actually, the magnetic polarity of Magnetic North is a south pole which, because unlike poles attract, attracts the north pole of the compass needle.
What is true north compared to magnetic north?
true north is the direction towards the Geographic north pole, the point on the globe exactly 90 degrees north of the equator, and thru which the earth's rotational axis meets the surface. Magnetic north is the direction towards the magnetic north pole which is predicted* to be located at 82.7 degrees north latitude, and 114.4 degrees west longitude (just north of Canada). Magnetic north is where a compass actually points to, so you must adjust your compass acordingly. *this is predicted because magnetic drift causes the pole to move from year to year.
What point on earth is the only place from which all directions face south?
The North Pole - because whatever direction you walk in away from it you will always be heading south. The North Magnetic Pole that is. Geographic North Pole is the correct answer. The magnetic pole is actually not in alignment with the geographic one.
How much does the North Pole measure?
Neither the Geographic nor the Magnetic North Pole has any measurements. It has no size, no length or width. It is only a position on the Earth.
What does a magnetic compass do?
It uses a magnetic needle to point to the earth's magnetic North Pole. The only other type of compass used is a gyro-compass. This uses a wheel which rotates parallel with the earth's rotation.
Reasons for Earth magnetic north poles being mapped and why they need to be kept up to date is?
There are no "magnetic north poles", only one. (There is also a magnetic south pole.)The reason is that the magnetic poles change over time.
Why is the earth's magnetic north pole really a magnetic south pole?
The north pole of a magnet is defined as that pole which is attracted to the Earth's magnetic pole. Since opposite poles attract that would, indeed, make the Earth's Northern hemisphere pole a magnetic south pole.Another AnswerLet's start by sorting out the terminology. 'Magnetic North' is a location, so-called, to distinguish it from 'True North'. It is not the magnetic polarity of that location. Magnetic North is not a fixed location, but is always moving relative to Magnetic North which is located at the earth's axis.A freely-suspended magnet, when it comes to rest, essentially points towards Magnetic North (it actually lies along the lines of magnetic flux that join Magnetic North and Magnetic South). For this reason, that end of a magnet (and that of a compass needle) was originally called its 'North-seeking' pole. Over time, we have dropped the word, 'seeking', and it's now simply called its 'north pole' and, by common agreement, this is also considered to be its magnetic polarity.So, if the 'north' pole of a magnet points towards the location we call 'Magnetic North', then the magnetic polarity of that location is a south pole. This is because unlike poles attract.So, to answer the question, the south magnetic pole of the earth is located (deep within the earth) below the located we call 'Magnetic North' in Canada.Why people find this so confusing can only be put down to poor teachers!Read more: Where_is_the_south_magnetic_pole_of_the_earth
What are the three magnetic poles?
The Geographical South Pole, The Magnetic South Pole and The Southern Pole of Inaccessibility.
Is the North Pole or the South Pole snowy?
yes although the Magnetic North Pole is not.
How does a compass work when your hiking?
The arrow that points north in the compass is attracted to the magnetic north pole, using magnetic waves generated by the earth. Even though the magnetic north pole is several miles from the rotational north pole, it helps you go north.answ2. Only the second statement above is true. The earth's magnetic field is generated by electrical currents flowing roughly parallel to the Equator. These are generated, we believe, by the hot magma.Your compass needle does NOT point north. Rather, it aligns itself with the magnetic lines of force at your location. But the local magnetic north may well be quite different from the real north. This is called the magnetic deviation in your region.
