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What is the arrow in a compass made of?
The compass needle is made of a small piece of magnetized steel, that in use aligns itself parallel with the lines of magnetic force at your location.In the northern hemisphere, by and large, the N painted end of the needle will point towards the North Pole.In the Southern Hemisphere, by and large, the S pole of the needle will point to the South Pole. (For it is the strongest there.)Because the compass needle will follow the lines of force, and these lines dip into the earth, compasses designed for use in the N hemisphere will have a small counter balancing weight to bring the needle to level.Analogously for compasses designed for use in the southern hemisphere.For people who wish to use their compass anywhere on the Earth, (such as military) they will have a slightly insensitive needle, and a more massive plate or dial.Having the dial (or card) immersed in a slightly viscous fluid will help steady the swinging of the needle.It is made from any magnetic material such as steel
If you made another compass with the same materials would the needle point be in the same direction?
the needle points in the direction the magnetic fields wish. The gravity pulls the compass nearer and nearer the magnetic fields.
What would indicate an magnetic field?
You can detect it by watching a compass needle, if that's what you mean.
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 do you need to make a floating compass?
You would need a piece of cork or other soft floating material, perhaps polystyrene, also a needle and a magnet. stroke the needle with the magnet a few times in the same direction and them insert the needle into the floater so that it is horizontal when the floater is placed in water, place floater into a container of water, the needle will point toward the magnetic north.
What tool would you use to detect magnetic effects?
A magnetic needle meter, or a simple compass.
What is the function of liquid chamber in a magnetic compass?
The liquid is there to dampen the movement of the needle. Without the liquid, the needle would spin and jiggle about rapidly. Hence the need to slow the movement down - it makes the compass easier to use.
In the southern hemisphere the north pole of a compass needle?
The north pole of a compass needle would still point point towards the north. More precisely, towards the Earth's magnetic south pole, which is close to the geographic north pole.
How would a southern hemisphere compass differ from a northern hemisphere compass?
The Southern Hemisphere compass will naturally align it self with the South Poleanswer 2 A compass designed to work in the southern hemisphere will have the needle/card balanced differently, for in the S hemisphere the S pole will cause the compass to dip slightly - and opposite to the northern hemisphere.The compass manufacturers divide the Earth into five zones for balance. Some folk need a compass that is insensitive to this effect, (e.g. Army) and for this they choose to have the needle a smaller part of the weight balanced on the pivot, and have a liquid filled compass.Regarding the first sentence above, the compass needle actually aligns itself with the lines of magnetic force at your location - which will still result in a N - S alignment.
Where would you end up if you followed a compass needle to the north?
To the North Pole.
Would a compass be useful on a spaceship in outer space?
No. A compass is a useful tool on Earth because the needle aligns with Earth's magnetic field and we know the shape of that field. There would be no such field in outer space.
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.
