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IF Earth's magnetic north pole is not located at the geographic north pole why is a compass useful for determining direction?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
"IF Earth's magnetic north pole is not located at the geographic north pole why is a compass useful for determining direction?"
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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What instrument is used for determining direction?
A compass. The North magnetic pole is in the direction of the N on the compass. Therefore, the North magnetic pole is in fact a magnetic field south pole since it *attracts* the north magnetic field pole of the compass magnet.
What is the angle between the geographic North Pole and the direction in which a compass needle points is called magnetic?
Magnetic declination
What is the function of the earth induction compass?
It is a device for determining aircraft direction using the magnetic field of the earth. See link to Earth inductor compass
Does a compass point to the geographic north pole?
No. The compass needle points toward the magnetic north pole.
Needle on compass always points to what pole?
The magnetic poles of a compass needle are named after the directions in which they point. 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South' are LOCATIONS (used to distinguish them from 'True North' and 'Magnetic North'), and do NOT describe their magnetic polarities. As 'unlike poles attract', the north pole of the compass needle points towards Magnetic North, whose polarity must, therefore, be south. By extension, the polarity of Magnetic South is north.
What instrument is used for determining direction?
A compass. The North magnetic pole is in the direction of the N on the compass. Therefore, the North magnetic pole is in fact a magnetic field south pole since it *attracts* the north magnetic field pole of the compass magnet.
Name one way of determining direction on the earth?
magnetic compass
What is a compass?
A compass is an instrument for determining direction consisting essentially of a freely suspended magnetic needle that points toward the magnetic north.
What is the angle between the geographic North Pole and the direction in which a compass needle points is called magnetic?
Magnetic declination
How the compass works?
The Earth has a magnetic field approximately like a magnetic dipole, with the magnetic field S pole near the Earth's geographic north pole and the other magnetic field N pole near the Earth's geographic south pole. A compass can determining direction relative to the Earth's magnetic poles by using a magnetized pointer (usually marked on the North end) which is pivoting free to align itself with Earth's magnetic field.
What is an instrument for determining direction consisting essentially of a freely suspended magnetic needle that points toward the magnetic north?
This is the description of a magnetic compass.
Is the compass attracted to the geographic or magnetic pole?
Magnetic.
What is the function of the earth induction compass?
It is a device for determining aircraft direction using the magnetic field of the earth. See link to Earth inductor compass
How does a compass determine direction?
A compass is a free-spinning magnet that will align itself to be parallel to the Earth's magnetic field lines. Since the Earth's magnetic poles are located relatively close to its geographic poles, a compass pointing to Earth's magnetic north pole also indicates the general direction of Earth's geographic north pole.
Does a compass point geographic north?
Actually, a compass points to the magnetic north pole, not the geographic north pole.
Why does a compass does not show exact geographical poles?
A compass needle points to the magnetic poles, which are not the same as the geographic poles. There is nothing special about the magnetic field at the geographic poles.
What is an instrument invented by the Chinese to show direction?
The Magnetic Compass.
