Why is it difficult to get an accurate bearing with a magnetic compass near the poles?

Answer 1

It can vary but i will give one reason. You might be near a magnetic metal which will interfere with what you are are trying to do, iron for example or steel so stay away from magnetic metals.

Answer 2

Yes. If you equate it to a permanent bar magnet.

Answer'Magnetic North' is a location or, more accurately, a direction. It does not describe its magnetic polarity. Since the north(-seeking) pole of a compass points towards Magnetic North, and since unlike poles attract, then the magnetic polarity of 'Magnetic North' is south.

Answer 3

It is because where the geographical north is there a bar magnet's south pole is there and where geographical south is there a bar magnet's north pole is there.This is because the earth acts like a magnet.That is, the earth's north pole and a bar magnet's south pole attract each other and the earth's south pole and a bar magnet's north pole attract each other.

Answer 4

The Geographic / True North (as shown on globes) is not the same as the magnetic north.

Quote from a website:

True North is the direction of a meridian of longitude which converges on the North Pole.

Magnetic North is the direction indicated by a magnetic compass. Magnetic North moves slowly with a variable rate and currently is west of Grid North in Great Britain.

Answer 5

Near the poles, the Earth's magnetic field lines are nearly vertical, causing the compass needle to be less stable and more prone to inaccuracies due to fluctuations in magnetic field strength and interference from local magnetic anomalies. This can make it challenging to get an accurate bearing with a magnetic compass.

Answer 6

All longitudes will join at north pole so which longitude value we will assign to the north pole or southpole... So we need to use different method to accomplish this purpose.

Answer 7

It is an area, not a point

Better Answer

It's not difficult! Use a compass. It's needle will point to the magnet's south pole.