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The north pole of a simple magnet was discovered first, for the ancients lacked the technology to go there. The north pole of a magnet is considered to point towards the Earth's North Pole. It is an arbitrary convention.
[Actually your local magnet will point in the northerly direction of the Earth's magnetic field at your location. This will vary from the true north by several degrees. The Earth's magnetic field is the net effect of several electric currents circulating within the Earth's magma.]
Since opposite poles attract, it is obvious that the actual magnetic north pole must in fact be a magnetic south pole, but by convention, it is known as the Magnetic North Pole. The north pole of your magnet points to the North Pole.
Answer
No-one knows who named the earth's poles, 'North' and 'South' -and, remember, these are English terms; other languages use different terms. The likelihood is that the names originated with mariners. It's a mistake to believe that the earth's poles were named after the polarities of a magnet; in fact, a magnet's poles were named according to the direction in which they pointed (when suspended) -i.e. the 'North-seeking' and 'South-seeking' poles. Over time, we have dropped the 'seeking', and the magnetic polarities are now known as 'north' and 'south' poles.
In fact, the magnetic poles point, not to 'True North' and 'True South', but to 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South'. 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South' are names given to LOCATIONS, and have nothing whatsoever to do with the magnetic polarity of those locations. They were so-named simply in order to distinguish these locations from those of 'True North' and 'Magnetic North'.
Because 'unlike poles attract', the reason that the north pole of a magnet is attracted towards 'Magnetic North' is because the magnetic polarity of that location is a south pole.
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How do you say north south east and west in french?
North South West - Nord Sud Ouest North South East - Nord Sud Est
No matter which way you go from here you will be traveling south where are you?
The North Pole.
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In order: norte, sur, este, oeste.
How do you say we are American in spanish?
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Riddle What is 4 no5?
4+no5 4+no5 Turn it Upside Down And Ull Will Find The Answer 5ou+4 South And The Answer Is South
The ends of this are the north and south poles?
The ends of the Earth are the North and South Poles. In terms of magnetism, the Earth's magnetic field has the North and South Magnetic Poles at opposite ends.
What are poles of the Earth?
The north and the south
What are directions an earth figured by?
North and South poles
What are the earth's poles?
North Pole & South Pole
Does Earth have north and south magnetic poles?
Yes
Is the sun less direct in the north poles or in the south poles?
In the north pole becuase of the angle that the earth is
What 2 positions on earth represent the furthest north and south of the equator?
The North and South Poles.
What are the points on the Earth that are intersected by the earth's axis of rotation?
The north and south poles.
Why does earth have two auroras?
Because the Earth has 2 poles. A North and a South.
Where does freezing rain occur on the earth?
on the north and south poles
What is the north and south most parts of the earth called?
Poles-
How are a compass and earth alike?
Both have North and South poles
