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Because of the magnetic pull of the north and south pole.

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Q: Why does a compass needle point in the north and south direction?
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Related questions

Determine the direction in which a compass needle will point when held above a wire with positive charges moving west?

The compass needle will point north-south.


Why does the compass point north in the southern hemisphere?

The direction of magnetic flux or lines of force is from north polarity to south polarity, and a compass needle will always align with that direction, wherever it is used. Since the magnetic polarity of the location we call Magnetic North is a south, a compass needle will point in that direction.


What is the purpose for a needle on a compass?

to point the right direction ***correction by cw - the needle always points north.


What can be used for a compass?

a freely suspended magnetic needle as it will always point to the north - south direction


Where does compass point if current is North?

If you are standing on the magnetic north pole, the needle will want to point down. If you are standing on the geographical North Pole, the needle will point South. From the North Pole, every direction is "South"!


What feature of the Earth makes a compass needle point north?

What features of the earth makes a compass needle point north


What feature of earth makes a compass needle point north?

What features of the earth makes a compass needle point north


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 does the painted point of a compass always always point North?

The painted end of the compass needle is magnetized. That magnetism is drawn toward the earth's magnetic field, which is to the north.AnswerA compass needle is a tiny magnet, with a north pole and a south pole. These poles are named after the direction in which they point, so the 'painted end' (north) of a compass needle points north because the needle aligns itself with the earth's magnetic field. Magnetic North is the name given to a location, close to True North, whose magnetic polarity is south -which is whyit attracts the north pole of the compass needle.


What direction does the magnetic compass point to?

the needle should point north unless your are close to another magnetic object which could interrupt it.


What direction does the needle of a compass point?

One end points to magnetic north and the other end points to the south.


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