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Basically, a magnetised needle on a pivot points towards the magnetic North of the World, based on the attraction of North and South magnets.

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What makes a pendulum swing back and forth?

Gravity makes a pendulum swing back and forth. The object starts at one point, and then moves in a circular motion to the apex of it's next point. The kinetic energy becomes less and less as time goes on if no extra energy is added.


Which characteristic of energy makes it so important to technology?

Energy is ability to do work


What are the advantages with using a compass?

The compass is important because with out it we would get lost. It helps ships navigate their way to land, and people that get lost in the woods back to their camp. To sum it up a compass helps you find you way, get your bearings, and navigate.


How does a standing fan work?

With an electric motor. A force acts on an electric current when it runs through a magnetic field (called the Lorentz Force) see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_motor


How does a 'compass' work?

A compass is a helpful, easy-to-carry tool. Wherever you are on earth, one end of a compass needle will point to the North Pole. It follows a imaginary line that connects to the magnetic poles of earth. Once you direction is north, you can easily determine south, west, and east. For a compass to work properly, its needle must be light-weight and turn easily. The compass cannot be close to a magnet. Otherwise,the needle will respond to the pull of the magnet rather than to Earth's magnetic field.Another AnswerA compass consists of a lightweight needle (a bar magnet), pivoted, so that it can freely rotate horizontally. The needle aligns itself with the earth's magnetic field, whose direction is from Magnetic South (located in the Antarctic) towards Magnetic North (located in the Arctic). This is because the earth behaves as though there was a large bar magnet, buried deep within the earth, whose north pole is below the Antarctic and whose south pole is below the Arctic (remember, Magnetic North and Magnetic South are locations, not magnetic polarities!).The terms, 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South', are used to distinguish these locations from 'True North' and 'True South'. Once 'Magnetic North' has been established, you can use then determine 'True North' for the purpose of navigation.

Related Questions

Do compass needles pointing to direction considered as contact force?

No, magnetism (the force that makes the needle turn) is a non-contact force.


What kind of force allows a navigation compass to work?

A navigation compass works based on the force of Earth's magnetic field. The compass needle is magnetized and aligns itself with the magnetic field, pointing towards the magnetic North Pole.


How do compass' work?

The arrow in a compass is magnetic and is being pulled the magnetic force from the north pole. Hope it helped:) btw, I'm a fifth grader:) :)


Does a greater amount of force always result in a greater amount of work?

Not necessarily. Work is the product of force and displacement in the direction of force. If the force is applied but there is no movement or displacement, then no work is done. So, a greater amount of force does not always result in a greater amount of work if there is no displacement.


What is done when force makes an object move?

When a force makes an object move, work is done.


What type of force makes a washing machine work?

Centrifugal force.


The force that makes a boat float?

The force that is at work is gravity. If you are thinking of bouyancy, it is not a force.


Why does a compass needle change direction when it is near a magnetic field?

Because of the magnetic force. The compass needle is also magnetic.Because of the magnetic force. The compass needle is also magnetic.Because of the magnetic force. The compass needle is also magnetic.Because of the magnetic force. The compass needle is also magnetic.


Is the transfer of energy that occurs when a force makes an object move?

The transfer of energy that occurs when a force makes an object move is called work. Work is a quantity of energy given in the unit of Joules. The mathematical description of work is the product of the force and the distance for which it was applied.


What Is the transfer of energy that occurs when a force makes an object move in the direction of the force?

The transfer of energy that occurs when a force makes an object move in the direction of the force is called work. Work is calculated as the product of the force applied to an object and the distance over which the force is applied in the direction of motion.


How does a crowbar make work easier?

it makes work easier by changing an input force into a larger output force.


What force makes a pencil eraser work?

friction