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The terms, 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South', are used to distinguish these locations from 'True North' and 'True South'. It's very important to understand that they do not refer to the magnetic polarity at these locations. Unlike True North and True South, the actual locations of Magnetic North and Magnetic South vary over time.
The ends of a magnet or compass needle are named after the directions in which they point (or, more accurately, the direction of the field along which they align) and, originally, were referred to as their 'North-seeking' and 'South-seeking' poles. The terms 'seeking' are now considered archaic and are no longer used, but the remaining terms 'north' and 'south', by convention, also define their magnetic polarities.
In accordance with the law that 'like poles repel while unlike poles attract', this means that the magnetic polarity of 'Magnetic North' is actually a south, while the magnetic polarity of 'Magnetic South' is a north. In other words, the earth behaves as though there was a giant bar magnet, buried deep within its crust, whose south pole is located in the Northern Hemisphere and whose north pole is located in the Southern Hemisphere.
Any answers that suggest that the 'North-seeking' pole of a compass is really a 'south' pole is completely incorrect and indicates a lack of understanding of the behaviour of magnets.
Additional Comment[On modern maps, the north is at the top of the map. This was not always so, and in early times, the east was at the top. For sunrise was a reliable indicator. Hence the term 'to orient your map'. From the Latin oriens, literally rising. Similar conventions occur in several languages. And the Latin for Occident means 'setting'.]
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoGenerally we use two kind of compass, magnetic and gyro compass.Both of them indicate one point but magnetic compass indicate magnetic north (earth has magnetic area that center approximately is on the Canada ,so there is distinction of angle between magnetic meridian and normal meridian.The angle is named variaton error variation error can find on a chart.if there is any metal thing near magnetic compass,it affect from it,and it called deviation error.When deviation and variation error is checked and corrected from magnetic compass we find real north.Sum of them actually magnetic compass dont indicate real north it only affect from magnetic area of earth and we see direction of magnetic north.
gyro compass is based gyroskop which indicates a stable point in space.So this mind is developed and cayro compass manufactured.gyro compass aim to point North.You can find more detail gyrocompass
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoSince the earth's magnetic field is in the north pole and the compass's point is a magnet it attracts to it.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoI know why it is because that's how it lins up the drection your going toards !
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Can your net force and acceleration be in opposite directions?
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Why does freely suspended magnet always point in the same direction?
because im always in that direction. ohhh yeahhh
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Yes, Heat always flows from the coldest to Hottest point in an object
Does spinning water always spin in the same direction?
Does spinning water always spin in the same direction?
Will earth go the same direction?
yes it rotates on an axis and 'always' in the same direction.
Does the Earths tip always point in the same direction?
No it does not. Since the Earth is constantly spinning, and also rotating around the sun, the earth will point in all 360 degrees.
The phrase true as a needle to the Pole suggests that?
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What direction will the shuttle come from when it appears in the sky?
forwards It is always traveling around the Earth in the same direction as we are rotating, but much faster. The space shuttle when in space can point in any direction, as there in no up and down. It still keeps moving in the same direction, even with engines facing forward.
How does the Geostationary Operational Environment Satellite work?
it rotates around the Earth at the same rate and in the same direction as the Earth revolves on its axis so it is always fixed over the same point
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Wind direction varies. It does not always go in the same direction.
What consist of a polygon a point not in the same direction?
A polygon has no direction so the phrase "in the same direction" makes no sense. Consequently, the question has no meaning.
Is the direction of force always the same as the direction of accelration?
Yes. f=ma the direction of acceleration is the direction of the force and vice versa.
What refers to electric current when electrons always flow in the same direction in the wire?
When electrons always flow in the same direction in the wire it is known a DC (direct current).
