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A compass has both a south pole and a north pole :)
It doesn't.But let's start with a little background. 'True North' and 'True South' are fixed locations that coincide with the earth's axis of rotation. The earth's magnetic field exists between 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South', so-called to distinguish these locations from 'True North' and 'True South'. The locations of 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South' are always moving relative to the positions of 'True North' and 'True South'.It's important to understand that 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South' are locations, and not the magnetic polarities of these locations!The ends of a compass needle are named after the directions in which they point. Originally, they were called the 'north-seeking pole' and the 'south-seeking pole' respectively, because those are the directions in which they roughly pointed. Actually, they point to Magnetic North and Magnetic South, not True North or True South. By convention, these names (these days, shortened to 'north' and 'south') also define the magnetic polarities of the compass needle.Because 'opposite poles attract', the magnetic polarity of Magnetic North must be a south pole in order to attract the north pole of a compass needle. And, of course, the magnetic polarity of Magnetic South must be a north pole in order to attract the south pole of a compass needle.
The North Pole.Another AnswerA compass needle points to the location called 'Magnetic North', named to distinguish it from 'True North'. Magnetic North is several hundred miles away from True North.
That is because the map is used with a magnetic compass. Since the needle on the compass points in the direction of magnetic north it is easier to use the map with the compass if the lines drawn on the map indicate magnetic north.
The definition of a true compass bearing - A true bearing is measured in relation to the fixed horizontal reference plane of True North, that is using the direction towards the geographic North Pole as a reference point.
Because compasses have better things to do.
A properly set up compass should show Magnetic North regardless of where on the planet it is except at the North and South Magnetic Poles
True North
To align your compass to true north, you need to adjust for magnetic declination, which is the angle between magnetic north and true north. You can find the specific magnetic declination for your location using online tools or a topographic map. Once you know the value of magnetic declination, you can use it to adjust the compass needle or rotate the bezel to align it with true north.
North Star points at True North, you can use a compass and north star to see how far off magnetic north is from your location. .
It points to true north.
They only point to the Magnetic NorthA compass is a permanent magnentA compass is a permanent magnet. A compass has both a south pole and a north pole. Compass magnets can be deflected by Earth's magnetic field or other permanent magnets.