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If you were in Uruguay and looked at your compass which way would the needle be pointing?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
It depends which direction you're facing, it has nothing to do with where on the planet you are.
WRONG ANSWER! Regardless of WHERE you are, or WHICH way you are looking, the compass needle will point to the NORTH. Not to the NORTH POLE mind you, but to the MAGNETIC NORTH, which is a little bit off from the TRUE NORTH and also MOVES a little bit every year. This is called VARIATION and depending on where you are, the TRUE NORTH may be to the right or to the left of where the compass needle points. Your reading will also be a little bit off to one side or the other, depending on which direction the needle is pointing (hey, nobody's perfect), but this is predictable and can be measured when the compass is calibrated (a process called swinging the compass). This is called COMPASS DEVIATION (don't think deviate now...) Another change may happen if you are going from West to East or viceversa AND you are accelerating or deccelerating, in which case the needle will lag. Last but not least, if you have any kind of magnetic interference near the compass, like a screwdriver with a magnetic tip, oh well then... the needle may be pointing God knows where.
North
north because that's what way compasses point.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
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What is the magnet in a compass?
The compass needle.
What a compass needle be made from?
Answer:A compass needle can be made from any ferrous metal that can be magnetized.
What is the moveable bar in a compass called?
A compass magnet or a compass needle.
Which way does a compass needle usually point?
The needle, or "pointer", of a compass will always point North. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compass
When a compass pointing north will point in a different direction when placed near a piece of metal Which causes this to happen?
The needle in compasses is magnetic and is drawn to the Earth's magneticism in the North. When the needle is placed near a metal, as all magnets are, attracted to metals.
The needle on a compass is always pointing to what pole?
The north pole.
What happens to the compass needle when the current in the wire is switched?
It will return to pointing North.
If Veronica spins in a circle with the compass in her hand which force keeps the compass' needle pointing north?
Magnetic Force
Can a compass needle pointing north end you up in the geographical north pole of earth?
no
What happens to the compass needle when the current in the wire is switched off?
It will return to pointing North.
What happens to the compass needle when current in the wire is switched off?
It will return to pointing North.
How does a compess work?
the compass needle points north and just say it was pointing at the s for south it means the south is really north. the compass is held differently
Which describes how a compass works?
. The south magnetic pole of the compass points to Earth's north magnetic pole.
What is the job of a compass?
To find where is someone placed, based on the compass' needle, which is always pointing to the magnetic pole of the Earth, that is the North. That provides orientation to the person since he has a map along with him.
Do compass needles pointing to direction considered as contact force?
No, magnetism (the force that makes the needle turn) is a non-contact force.
Why Magnetic compass inoperative at the poles?
the fieldlines are pointing straight down. If your compass could rotate when held up (instead of lying flat on a table), the needle would point downwards.
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.
