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Why does the needle on a compass point north and not south east or west?
Mackfan
Magnetism is a hidden property in nature which manifests because of relative movement of electric charges in space. Charges are of two types. Positive and negative. We locate the presence of charges in the atom with electrons possessing negativity and with the protons having positivity. Protons are held with neutrons because of nuclear force in the nucleus. As electrons go round the core of atom, a magnetic dipole is created. This is known to be orbital magnetic dipole. Apart from this orbital movement, electrons spin and protons too spin within nucleus and so spin magnetic dipoles are also generated. Such varieties of dipoles have their resultant dipole moment in a specified orientation. Being vector, the resultant can be computed as the vector sum of all these. In some cases the resultant would become zero and in some other cases, a residual resultant dipole moment exists. Such dipole moments in different atoms of the substance as a whole may have zero resultant or net value in some direction. Now extend this idea with different materials present in the earth and there by we can get some resultant magnetic moment as a whole for the total earth. One more point is that the earth also spins in the space. So it is inevitable for earth to have a resultant magnetic moment. As earth spins about an axis which extends right from Geo north to Geo south, magnetic south is said to be induced near by Geo north and magnetic north is induced near by Geo south. The above can be easily imagined as if a bar magnet is inserted through an orange fruit.
Like poles repel and unlike poles attract.
This is the right reason why a pivoted compass needle, which is nothing but a magnetic needle, sets itself along north- south direction. The tip which points towards the Geo north is to be named as magnetic north pole because earth's magnetic south is said to be present near by Geo north. So no chance for the magnetic needle to stay along east-west.
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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"!
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 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.
Why do the ends of a compass needle point north and south?
they're magnetically charged and therefore attracted to the North Pole
Why does a compass point North?
The magnetized needle of a compass is attracted to the Earth's own magnetic field which has magnetic poles at the North and South.
Where will a compass point if you face south?
If you point the north side of the compass away from you the compass will point south. Because the needle always points north (magnetism).
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 a compass needle point in the north and south direction?
Because of the magnetic pull of the north and south pole.
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"!
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 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.
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.
A needle on a compass always point to what pole?
The North Pole.Another AnswerA compass needle points to the location called 'Magnetic North', named to distinguish it from 'True North'. Magnetic North is several hundred miles away from True North.
What can be used for a compass?
a freely suspended magnetic needle as it will always point to the north - south direction
Why do the ends of a compass needle point north and south?
they're magnetically charged and therefore attracted to the North Pole
Why does a compass point North?
The magnetized needle of a compass is attracted to the Earth's own magnetic field which has magnetic poles at the North and South.
Where does a compass needle point point to?
if your facing north, the compass needle will point to the N on you compass, along with south (S), west (W) and east (E). also, northeast(NE), southeast(SE), northwest (NW), southwest(SW).AnswerA compass points to the location called Magnetic North.
