If only allowed to pivot in a horizontal plane, it would wander aimlessly. If also
allowed to deflect vertically, it would point straight down into the ground.
If you were at the magnetic North Pole, a compass needle would point directly downward, or vertically, toward the Earth's surface. This is because the magnetic field lines at the magnetic North Pole are oriented almost straight down. Consequently, traditional compass readings become unreliable in this region, as the needle cannot align horizontally.
It is still a needle, but could be referred to as a compass needle.
One side of the needle points north. This is the one that is usually considered, so you would say that the "needle points north", but of course, the other side points south. The part that points north is usually specially marked. The magnetic compass reacts to Earth's magnetic field, which doesn't exactly coincide with Earth's rotation, so there may be some deviation, that is, it may not point exactly north.
If you are at the North pole, the north point of the magnetic needle in the compass will tilt a little downwards, and the south pole of the compass needle will tilt upwards. If you hold the compass in a direction vertically perpendicular to the surface of the Earth, the needle will align itself like the earth's magnetic field, as if it were a huge bar magnet, the north part of the needle facing upwards.
If you are in a plane flying directly above the Earth's magnetic north pole, the north-seeking end of a compass would point directly downward, toward the Earth's surface. This occurs because the magnetic field lines at the magnetic north pole are nearly vertical, causing the compass needle to align itself with the field. As a result, instead of pointing horizontally to the north, the needle would dip downward.
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.
It is still a needle, but could be referred to as a compass needle.
If there is a magnet beside a compass, the compass needle would be influenced by the magnetic field of the magnet rather than Earth's magnetic field. The needle would point towards the opposite pole of the magnet, so if the magnet's north pole is beside the compass, the compass needle would point towards the south.
The compass needle would be affected by the magnetic field from the nearby magnet. The needle would align itself with the magnetic field of the magnet, causing the compass to point in a direction different from true north.
One side of the needle points north. This is the one that is usually considered, so you would say that the "needle points north", but of course, the other side points south. The part that points north is usually specially marked. The magnetic compass reacts to Earth's magnetic field, which doesn't exactly coincide with Earth's rotation, so there may be some deviation, that is, it may not point exactly north.
If you are at the North pole, the north point of the magnetic needle in the compass will tilt a little downwards, and the south pole of the compass needle will tilt upwards. If you hold the compass in a direction vertically perpendicular to the surface of the Earth, the needle will align itself like the earth's magnetic field, as if it were a huge bar magnet, the north part of the needle facing upwards.
The compass needle would align itself with the magnetic field produced by the electromagnet. The north-seeking pole of the compass needle would point towards the south pole of the electromagnet, indicating the direction of the magnetic field.
If you are in a plane flying directly above the Earth's magnetic north pole, the north-seeking end of a compass would point directly downward, toward the Earth's surface. This occurs because the magnetic field lines at the magnetic north pole are nearly vertical, causing the compass needle to align itself with the field. As a result, instead of pointing horizontally to the north, the needle would dip downward.
The north end of a compass needle would point toward the north pole of a bar magnet.
The tangent to a magnetic field line at any point indicates the direction of the magnetic field at that specific location. This is because the tangent line represents the direction a compass needle would point if placed at that point on the field line. The magnetic field lines themselves flow from the north pole of a magnet to its south pole, with the tangent pointing in the direction the magnetic field would act on a north pole.
Perhaps you are holding it the wrong way around or you are standing near a powerful magnetic field.
When the needle of a compass points in a certain direction that means that the poles of earth have alined it so the point is pointing to the north pole (because earth is a magnet) so In conclusion the poles of earth are being attracted to the opposite pole of the needle because opposites attract and the needles in compasses are designed to point the "pointy" part at the north pole. (pretty smart for an 11year old). To be a little more technical, all magnets have a magnetic field going out from its North Pole and entering back in at its South Pole. When in another magnetic field, the fields will exert a force to try to align the field lines. If near a ferromagnetic material, such as iron, the field lines are distorted and exert a force between the magnet and the metal to realign the fields. Since the compass needle has a small mass, and easily spins, it is usually the object which will move.