answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

There won't be any (much) net magnetic field inside the metal container. The external field (eg. from the earth) will induce a magnetic dipole in the metal of the container. Insider the container, the external and induced fields will approximately cancel out.

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why Instruments with magnetic fields eg a compass should be stored in containers made of steel or iron?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

How do you prevent undue magnetic influences on a compass?

Preventing other magnetic fields from affecting a compass is difficult, because the earth's magnetic field is relatively weak. Just in the home there are many things that can influence a compass, from the electrical wiring to the loudspeakers of a hi-fi. The best way to avoid these influences is simply to keep the compass far enough away from them. However, a magnetic shield can be built by simply housing the compass in a hollow iron container, but this will obviously also shield the compass from the earth's magnetic field.


Can magnetic field lines be detected by a compass?

The magnetic field can certainly be detected by a compass.The 'lines' are a handy human invention, and don't really exist, so you could not,say, trace out the lines with a compass, because they're not there.But place a compass next to a wire that's involved in any battery-operated (DC)circuit, and the compass absolutely goes crazy !


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.


Sammy tells his mother he will be back at 5 PM but he was almost an hour late His excuse is that his compass was pointing west How does she know he is lying?

The needle on a compass will almost always point north. However, small compasses are notoriously vulnerable to strong local magnetic fields (industrial, MRI medical, and other devices). One of those fields could have affected or even ruined his compass.


What tool does scientist use to find magnetic fields?

A magnetometer detects magnetic fields.

Related questions

Instruments with magnetic fields ega compass should be stored in containers made of steel or iron?

Steel since magnets attract iron.


How could you change the direction in which a compass needle points using a cell and a piece of wire?

The compass will react to magnetic fields, and magnetic fields are caused by currents. Therefore, holding a current-carrying wire close to the compass is enough to change the direction in which it points.The compass will react to magnetic fields, and magnetic fields are caused by currents. Therefore, holding a current-carrying wire close to the compass is enough to change the direction in which it points.The compass will react to magnetic fields, and magnetic fields are caused by currents. Therefore, holding a current-carrying wire close to the compass is enough to change the direction in which it points.The compass will react to magnetic fields, and magnetic fields are caused by currents. Therefore, holding a current-carrying wire close to the compass is enough to change the direction in which it points.


Will a compass always work?

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.


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.


How does a compass needle align its self?

The compass needle is magnetic, so it aligns itself with the magnetic poles. For more information on magnetic fields, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_field


Does a radio alter a compass reading?

The pointer on a compass is magnetic. The speakers and transformers a radio put out magnetic fields that WILL deflect the direction that the pointer points. - wjs1632 -


How could magnetic rocks affect a compass and why?

In a regular magnetic compass, the needle is a magnet. One end is the south pole and the other end is the north pole. Magnets are affected by other magnets. If a magnet is placed near a magnetic compass, the north pole of the compass's needle is attracted by the south pole of the magnet, and the south pole of the compass's needle is attracted by the north pole of the magnet.


What do you have to add to a compass to make it in line with the earths magnetic field?

Nothing. That's exactly what a compass does ... as long as it's free to turn, and there are no ferrous metals or other sources of magnetic fields nearby.


What are facts about compasses?

A compass uses magnetic fields to direct the needle which points north. From this we derive South or East or west.add. In detail, your compass knows nothing of the Earth's North or South (magnetic) Poles. It aligns itself with the lines of magnetic force at your locality.megnate in compass oppose the megnate of the earth.


Can a magnet be used for finding direction?

Yes. That is exactly what a magnetic compass does.a magnet, as in a fridge magnet cannot, but a magnetic compass can. a magnet compass points and directs itself the the north pole, where magnetic fields are located; this is why a magnetic compass can find directs as in NORTH SOUTH EAST OR WEST, it cannot say find it's way from say second street to third street,


How do you prevent undue magnetic influences on a compass?

Preventing other magnetic fields from affecting a compass is difficult, because the earth's magnetic field is relatively weak. Just in the home there are many things that can influence a compass, from the electrical wiring to the loudspeakers of a hi-fi. The best way to avoid these influences is simply to keep the compass far enough away from them. However, a magnetic shield can be built by simply housing the compass in a hollow iron container, but this will obviously also shield the compass from the earth's magnetic field.


What happens internally when you calibrate a mechanical auto compass?

Small magnets are rotated to "null out" local magnet fields so the compass will accurately align to magnetic North.