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Of True North and Magnetic North and Compass North which way is really up?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
True North is the real North, following along the lines of longitude which converge at the North Pole, the farthest geographically North point on the planet, and the rotational axis of the planet. Magnetic North and Compass North are both the same thing, with the compass pointing along Magnetic North. Magnetic North however, is not the real North. If you were to follow your compass as far North as it could point, you would end up on the Prince of Wales Island in the Northwest Territories of Canada, over 1,500 miles away from the North Pole. Magnetic North can be adjusted to True North on your compass by knowing the local magnetic variation of your area and adding/subtracting accordingly. A third North is Grid North, which follows the Grid Lines on a standard map. At the South Pole, every direction is True North, so Grid North is used instead and can be found by following the Prime Meridian northwards. Hope that helps.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThe magnetic north is actually closer to what we generally call the south pole. The geographic poles and the magnetic poles are opposite. While we say that Santa lives in the north pole, he actually lives near the magnetic south pole. The same goes for the geographic south pole. It is actually by the magnetic north pole.
Further AnswerTo avoid confusion, you must first understand that the terms Magnetic North and Magnetic South are used to describe locations, and not magnetic polarities. Locations and polarities are two different things entirely.
Magnetic North is located close to True North, and Magnetic South is located close to True South. Magnetic North and Magnetic South aren't fixed locations but, rather, move around in the vicinities of True North and True South.
The end of a magnet (or compass needle) which points towards Magnetic North used to be called, for obvious reasons, its 'North-seeking Pole'. Over time, we have dropped the term 'seeking' and, now, it is simply called its 'north pole' and, by general agreement, this is also its magnetic polarity. A fundamental law of magnetism states that 'unlike poles attract'. So, if the north pole of a magnet is attracted towards the location we call Magnetic South, then the magnetic polarity of that location must be a south pole.
To summarise, Magnetic North is a location whose magnetic polarity is south. And, of course, Magnetic South is a location whose magnetic polarity in north.
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Does a map show true north?
yes it does and a compass shows magnetic north. this is where declination takes course between the difference of the two
Where does the north pole of a compass point?
To the magnetic North Pole which fluctuates in it's distance from the true pole.
How does the Earths magnetism help us find your way?
As such till now there is no proper or valid theory to prove or explain the cause of earth's magnetic field. A bar magnet or a magnetic compass alligns itself in the direction of earth's magnetic field. This process happens as south pole of magnet alligns itself to north pole of earth n vice versa true north pole is southpole of magnet. Exact location of places can be done by calculating the magnetic flux density n various other factor . . . . . .
Is the magnetic pole exactly at the north?
No. The true north pole is the northern point about which the earth spins. If you were to spin, the ball would have a north and south pole; the poles would be the 'top' and 'bottom' of the spin, which would move very little compared with the ring around the circumference of the ball halfway between the 'top' and 'bottom' or 'north' and 'south' poles (which on earth is the line of latitude we call the equator). The magnetic north pole is vaguely near the north pole, but not exactly; the true north pole lies within the arctic ocean, but the magnetic pole currently lays near Ellesmere Island in northern Canada, but is moving toward Siberia at a rate of around 35 miles per year. The true north pole marking the "top" axis about which the earth spins is relatively fixed. At the north pole, the sun rises and sets only once per year. Further, time zones are absolutely meaningless, as if one were able to stand precisely at the north pole, one would occupy every time zone, from GMT to the International Date Line, simultaneously. The only 'direction' one can travel walking any line from the true North Pole is south.
What do compass tattoos mean?
The compass design is a popular maritime tattoo, reflecting the long history that has intertwined body art and sailors, and is similar to the nautical star in its symbolism. In the early age of sail, mariners navigated their way through uncharted waters and unknown perils armed only with the stars at night, a compass to point North and there own wits to guide them. The compass and the North Star were all that a good sailor needed to find his way in the world, hence both were popular tattoo designs. A tattoo not only to help navigate the sea, but to make ones way through life. Some of the most popular compass tattoo designs are lifted straight off of old navigational charts.
Does a compass point true north magnetic north or at the north pole?
North Star points at True North, you can use a compass and north star to see how far off magnetic north is from your location. .
What do you mean by true course in navigation?
you can travel Magnetic or true courses ie magnetic north and true north. Magnetic north is by way of compass
How does magnetic field affect a compass?
The earth's magnetic field acts upon the magnetic material of the compass needle, causing it to align to the field. Thus, the compass appears to point North, which is "magnetic north". Magnetic north and "true north" are about 300 miles apart.
What is the name of the difference of true north and magnetic north?
The difference is referred to as magnetic, or compass, declination.
How does earth magnetic field affect a compass?
The earth's magnetic field acts upon the magnetic material of the compass needle, causing it to align to the field. Thus, the compass appears to point North, which is "magnetic north". Magnetic north and "true north" are about 300 miles apart.
Why do orienteering maps have magnetic North Pole instead of the true North Pole?
That is because the map is used with a magnetic compass. Since the needle on the compass points in the direction of magnetic north it is easier to use the map with the compass if the lines drawn on the map indicate magnetic north.
Does a compass point to north?
no It points to magnetic north, which is not exactly the same as true north.
Why does a compass needle line itself up with the magnetic field?
a compass points the magnetic north pole,because the earth is tilted on an axis of 23 degrees, while spinning on this same axis.that is why a compass points to magnetic north and not true north.
Why does the north end of a compass point north?
It doesn't.But let's start with a little background. 'True North' and 'True South' are fixed locations that coincide with the earth's axis of rotation. The earth's magnetic field exists between 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South', so-called to distinguish these locations from 'True North' and 'True South'. The locations of 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South' are always moving relative to the positions of 'True North' and 'True South'.It's important to understand that 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South' are locations, and not the magnetic polarities of these locations!The ends of a compass needle are named after the directions in which they point. Originally, they were called the 'north-seeking pole' and the 'south-seeking pole' respectively, because those are the directions in which they roughly pointed. Actually, they point to Magnetic North and Magnetic South, not True North or True South. By convention, these names (these days, shortened to 'north' and 'south') also define the magnetic polarities of the compass needle.Because 'opposite poles attract', the magnetic polarity of Magnetic North must be a south pole in order to attract the north pole of a compass needle. And, of course, the magnetic polarity of Magnetic South must be a north pole in order to attract the south pole of a compass needle.
Why gyro compass is used in ships instead of magnetic compass?
Because a ship is made of metal, which can affect the accuracy of a standard magnetic compass. Also, a gyrocompass is is better able to point to the true north, which is more accurate to navigation than magnetic North, which is not actually true North. Link below:
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.
Does the magnetic compass always point in a northern direction when placed on the earth?
No. The true north pole and the magnetic north pole are in different locations. The compass will point at the magnetic north pole. If you happened to be somewhere between the two north poles, the compass will point exactly backwards!
