'Magnetic North' is the name given to a location in the Arctic, to differentiate it from 'True North'. Whereas True North is fixed and located at the Earth's axis of rotation, the 'Magnetic North' varies from year to year. The term, 'Magnetic North', does not describe the magnetic polarity at that location which, actually, is a south pole.
compasses point to it. its at the north pole in the arcticNo It's not, the Magnetic North Pole is at this moment just off Ellesmere Island heading towards Russia at a rate of 40 miles (60 km) per year.AnswerIt depends what you mean by 'magnetic north pole'. If you mean the location, called 'Magnetic North' (arctic), then its polarity is south. If, by 'magnetic north pole', you mean its magnetic polarity, then it's located at Magnetic South (antarctic).
you can travel Magnetic or true courses ie magnetic north and true north. Magnetic north is by way of compass
No. I assume you mean a magnetic compass. A magnetic compass reacts to magnetic fields; the magnetic south pole of Earth is not exactly at the geographic north pole, so at some points of the Earth's surface, the magnetic compass will actually point south instead of north. Also, a magnetic compass will be influenced by other magnetic fields, e.g., current-carrying wires.No. I assume you mean a magnetic compass. A magnetic compass reacts to magnetic fields; the magnetic south pole of Earth is not exactly at the geographic north pole, so at some points of the Earth's surface, the magnetic compass will actually point south instead of north. Also, a magnetic compass will be influenced by other magnetic fields, e.g., current-carrying wires.No. I assume you mean a magnetic compass. A magnetic compass reacts to magnetic fields; the magnetic south pole of Earth is not exactly at the geographic north pole, so at some points of the Earth's surface, the magnetic compass will actually point south instead of north. Also, a magnetic compass will be influenced by other magnetic fields, e.g., current-carrying wires.No. I assume you mean a magnetic compass. A magnetic compass reacts to magnetic fields; the magnetic south pole of Earth is not exactly at the geographic north pole, so at some points of the Earth's surface, the magnetic compass will actually point south instead of north. Also, a magnetic compass will be influenced by other magnetic fields, e.g., current-carrying wires.
It is magnetic north (not geographical north), which is the north on a magnetic compass.
You must not confuse 'Magnetic North' with 'north magnetic pole', as these two things are completely different! 'Magnetic North' is a location, while 'north magnetic pole' refers to the magnetic polarity of the earth's 'Magnetic South'.'Magnetic North' is the point on the earth towards which magnetic compasses point. It is not a fixed position. It is presently (2012) in Canada and is drifting toward Siberia. It should not be confused with Grid, Geographic, or True North, which is a fixed point located at the axis about which the earth revolves. The same applies to the Magnetic South.The term, 'Magnetic North' describes a location, and has absolutely nothing to do with its magnetic polarity. The magnetic polarity of the location we call Magnetic North is actually a south pole, which is the reason it attracts the north pole of a magnet or compass needle.
magnetic north
magnetic north
'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South' are locationsrelatively close to 'True North' and 'True South' which mark the earth's axis of rotation. The terms 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South' are used to differentiate their locations from those of 'True North' and 'True South'. They have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the magnetic polarities of these locations. In fact, the magnetic polarity of 'Magnetic North' is a south pole, and the magnetic polarity of 'Magnetic South' is a north pole. This is why the earth's magnetic field leaves at 'Magnetic South' and enters at 'Magnetic North', causing a compass needle to point along the lines of magnetic flux towards 'Magnetic North'.
I don't think that they spin in oposite directions if that's what you mean. Magnetic north and true north are completely unrelated. True north is a geographical location that lies on earth's axis. Magnetic north is just what they call it. At somepoint they must have noticed that earth's magnetic poles seemed to line up with north and south so that's what they named magnetic poles since they could be used for navigation. The core's spinning does cause the magnetic poles to move though.
magnetic north north pole =magnetic south
magnetic variation
The magnetic north is in a generally northerlydirection.