Why does a compass needle not point to the geographic North Pole?

Answer 1

The Compass needle not points towards north when placed near iron objects or any magnetic substance(an object which is attracted by a magnet).

Edit; Apart from the above, the molten core of the Earth induces circulating currents that place the North Magnetic Pole in Canada and not at the Geographic North Pole; and for that matter the South Pole similarly.

It is both intriguing and fortunate that the Geographic and Magnetic Poles are so close together.

Edit: It also has a problem pointing north if you're directly above either Magnetic pole.

Answer 2

The iron deposits that attract the magnet in the compass are not located directly under the geographic north pole of the earth. Because they are located under the far North American landmass, that is where the needle will point, not to the actual "north pole" which is located in the arctic, over water.

Answer 3

Actually, depending on which type of compass you use, a compass points to one of the two North Poles.

• Magnetic compasses point to the magnetic North Pole. It is at a different location from the upper axis of the Earth, but not too far away. For most parts of the world, the compass will point north-ish. Should you decide to sail in the Arctic Circle, however, you would be badly confused if you followed your compass. At present (in 2005) the North Magnetic Pole is located northwest of Canada's Sverdrup Island at approximately 82.7° North and 114.4° West. Just to make matters difficult, this location is not fixed and is moving on a daily basis.
• Gyroscopic compasses are aligned to the Earth's rotation and point to the true North Pole located at 90° North . These are used on ships and airplanes and have the added advantage of not being bothered by local magnetic equipment.

Answer 4

Generally there is no such place. A compass always point to magnetical south. Which is located in the neighbourhood of the defined geographic north. Technically, I suppose if you were around geographical north, your compass would lead you in a wrong direction, to magnethical south. But anywhere on the planet next to the poles, a compass always points (more or less) in the right direction. (Ofcourse you can force a compass to turn in a wrong direction, by creating other magnetic fields, but this is not considered in the above.)

Answer 5

It will not point to the north if it is close to a locally stronger magnetic field, such as magnets, motors, dynamos, or magnetized iron ore.

It will also not point to the north if you are in the Canadian Arctic. The North Magnetic Pole is not the same as the North Geographic Pole. The North Magnetic Pole drifts with changes in the Earth's magnetic field, and in 2009 was north of the Queen Elizabeth Islands in Canada, at 87.1°N 114.4°W.

At the North Pole, the compass would actually be pointing to the south.

Answer 6

The compass needle points to the magnetic North Pole, which is slightly offset from the geographic North Pole due to the Earth's magnetic field. The magnetic pole is constantly shifting due to changes in the Earth's core, so the discrepancy between the two poles can vary over time.

Answer 7

Nowhere, your compass would continue to point north. And not only can north mean up or down but in a certain direction. this is why you hold a compass flat when it is being used.

Answer 8

It would point towards the Magnetic North pole.

Answer 9

North