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A compass needle will align itself with a magnetic field. It will want to lie along the magnetic field lines, or lie parallel to the lines of force of the magnetic field it is interacting with.

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14y ago
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Wiki User

10y ago

A compass needle, as well as everything else on Earth, is ALWAYS within a magnetic

field. If the compass needle is free to turn, it will align itself with the magnetic field,

and point along the north/south axis of the field. If another magnetic field source

appears near the compass ... such as a current-carrying electrical conductor, or

a toy magnet in somebody's pocket ... whose field strength is comparable to the

Earth's, then the compass will deflect, and realign itself along the north/south axis

of the SUM of the fields.

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12y ago

If a magnetic compass needle is placed in a magnetic Field , its needle deflects and points in the north and south directions

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Mohi Savita

Lvl 2
2y ago

The compass needle always aligns itself parallel to the magnetic field lines its interacting with.

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Wiki User

12y ago

no it doesent

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Q: Does a compass needle line up perpendicular or parallel to a magnetic field?
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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.


A compass needle points northward due to earths?

magnetic field


What is the The north magnetic pole of a compass needle is attracted to the magnetic pole of the earth.?

The needle on a compass points to the North Magnetic Pole. CommentA compass points to Magnetic North, not to the north magnetic pole. They are two different things -the first is location, the second is magnetic polarity.


A compass needle is a small magnet.It line up with the Earth's magnetic field lines what must me true about the polarity of the compass needle which points northwards geographically?

'Magnetic North' is so-called to distinguish it from 'True North' -it has nothing whatsoever to do with describing its magnetic polarity. The poles of a magnet and, therefore, a compass needle, are named after the directions in which they point. Since unlike poles attract, the magnetic polarity of Magnetic North must be a south pole.


How does a needle on a compass align itself?

if a bar magnet swings freely it will act like a compass.

Related questions

Why needle of tangent galvanometer move by increasing and decreasing current?

The galvanometer is oriented so that the plane of the coil is vertical and aligned along parallel to the horizontal component He of the Earth's magnetic field (i.e. parallel to the local "magnetic meridian"). When an electrical current flow through the galvanometer coil, a second magnetic field H is created. At the center of the coil, where the compass needle is located, the coil's field is perpendicular to the plane of the coil. These two perpendicular magnetic fields add vertically, and the compass needle points along the direction of their resultant He + H. The current in the coil causes the compass needle to rotate by an angle\ \theta.


Why does a compass needle change direction when it is near a magnetic field?

Because of the magnetic force. The compass needle is also magnetic.Because of the magnetic force. The compass needle is also magnetic.Because of the magnetic force. The compass needle is also magnetic.Because of the magnetic force. The compass needle is also magnetic.


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.


How does a compass needle respond when a compass is placed in a magnetic field?

If a magnetic compass needle is placed in a magnetic Field , its needle deflects and points in the north and south directions


How does a compass needle respond when a compass is placed with a magnetic field?

If a magnetic compass needle is placed in a magnetic Field , its needle deflects and points in the north and south directions


How does a compass needle respond when a compass is Place with in a magnetic field?

If a magnetic compass needle is placed in a magnetic Field , its needle deflects and points in the north and south directions


What would a compess point to if you were at the north pole?

If you are at the North pole, the north point of the magnetic needle in the compass will tilt a little downwards, and the south pole of the compass needle will tilt upwards. If you hold the compass in a direction vertically perpendicular to the surface of the Earth, the needle will align itself like the earth's magnetic field, as if it were a huge bar magnet, the north part of the needle facing upwards.


What direction does a compass needle point if a current carrying wire is wrapped around it?

The compass needle aligns itself parallel to the direction of the lines of magnetic force where it happens to be. It does not 'point to a particular pole' for that is beyond the sensibility of a simple bar of metal. I repeat, it aligns itself parallel to the lines of magnetic force ...


How does a compass needle align itself?

A compass has a needle that is magnetized. This needle is suspended so that it can rotate freely and it can align itself with any magnetic field it is exposed to.If you put a magnet close to a compass, the needle will align itself with the magnets magnetic field.It picks up the earth's magnetic field.answer 2 A magnetic compass needle aligns itself with the lines of magnetic force at your locality.It picks up the earth's magnetic field.answer 2 A magnetic compass needle aligns itself with the lines of magnetic force at your locality.


What is a magnetic needle that is free to turn?

Compass


How does an inducted magnetic field influence the direction of a compass needle?

The conducting wire wrapped around the compass is energized creating a magnetic field that counteracts the effects of the Earth's magnetic field and changes the direction of the compass needle.


How does a compass needle align its self?

The compass needle is magnetic, so it aligns itself with the magnetic poles. For more information on magnetic fields, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_field