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A magnet always has two faces or 'poles'. One is called north, because it will be attracted to the north pole of the earth if allowed to freely rotate. The other is called south because it will be attracted to the south pole of the earth. The earth itself acts like a magnet. The north pole of the earth actually has a south magnetic polarity and therefore attracts the north pole of a magnet. A compass needle is a magnet in which the arrow that points north has a north magnetic polarity.
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∙ 11y ago
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∙ 9y agoA bar magnet, when freely suspended, will always come to rest pointing approximately in a North-South direction.
The reason for this is that it is aligning itself with the Earth's natural magnetic field which extends, as we shall learn, from the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere.
However, the Earth's magnetic field isn't aligned with the Earth's axis of rotation -in other words, it doesn't extend between the geographic, or True North pole, and the geographic, or True South pole. Rather, it extends between two other locations which we call 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South'. These locations move over time, and are several hundred miles from True North and True South.
It's important to understand that 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South' are LOCATIONS named to distinguish them from True North and True South, and are NOT the magnetic polarities of those locations.
For obvious reasons, the end of the magnet which points to Magnetic North was originally called its 'north-seeking' pole, and the end which points to Magnetic South was originally called its 'south-seeking' pole. Over time, we no longer use the term, 'seeking', and simply call them the magnet's 'north' and 'south' poles.
So the poles of a magnet are named after the DIRECTIONS in which they point but, also, by general consent, are also used to identify their magnetic polarities.
Because 'unlike poles attract', this means that the MAGNETIC POLARITY of the location we call 'Magnetic North' must be a south pole, and the MAGNETIC POLARITY of the location we call 'Magnetic South' must be a north pole.
From this, we can conclude that the Earth behaves as though there was a giant bar magnet buried deep within the earth, slightly misaligned from the Earth's axis of rotation, and whose north pole is located in the southern hemisphere and whose south pole is located in the northern hemisphere, and a freely-suspended magnet aligns itself with that magnet's field. WebRep
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Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThe north pole of a magnet points to the north because it is responding to the Earth's magnetic field. The magnet will not ALWAYS point north; if there is a stronger magnet nearby, it will be affected by that one instead.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoI believe it has to do with the earths Magnetic field. The North(im guessing) Has a stronger pull than the rest of the earth. I'm sure if you need a 100% accurate Answer you could find an article on Google or something.
Wiki User
∙ 16y agoThe needle is magnetic and therefore aligns with the magnetic poles of the earth. Unless you are standing at the poles, in which case the needle can point anywhere
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∙ 14y agoA magnet will try to align itself with the ambient magnetic field. The north pole of the magnet will "point" to the south, and the south pole will "point" to the north.
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∙ 14y agoa bar magnet will align itself in the direction of the magnetic field i.e along the magnetic field which means that both of the ends of the bar magnet will be in the line of magnetic field
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∙ 13y agoIt points to the magnetic north pole. The magnetic north pole is slowly moving. Its currently about 500 miles off the coast of Canada.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoWell, they try.
As for why, they're trying to align with the Earth's magnetic field.
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How does a loudspeaker use a electromagnet?
IN a loud speaker there are two magnets. one permanent magnet that always has its northpole pointing in the same direction , and one electro magnet that can change its magnetic field in direction and magnitude. IF both northpoles point into the same direciton ,the speaker cone is pushed out, if both point in opposite directions the speaker cone is pulled in. The direction and magnitude can be controlled by the current passing through the electro magnet.
How do you magnetize a magnet?
keep striking it in one direction by another magnet
What does the direction of the magnetic field depend on?
it depends on the north of a magnet and the south of a magnet
Stroking a magnetic material in one direction with a magnet produces a magnet by?
stroking dumbo
You are given a bar magnet how will you find out the west direction?
The sun sets in the West and rises in the East. Unless the bar magnet has its N pole marked, it is of little use, you can get it to point N/S by freely suspending it but you will not be able to tell east from west. The direction the sun is moving is more relevant.
Does a freely suspended magnet always point in the north south direction?
Yes. A freely suspended magnet always point in the north south direction.
Why does freely suspended magnet always point in the same direction?
because im always in that direction. ohhh yeahhh
Why does a compass point in different directions?
Its ovious why a compass points in different directions. For example, if your going north, the compass points north because your going that direction. Theres also a magnet concealed in the compass. How does the compass know what direction yoiur going. Earth it self is a magnet. When you head that direction, it will point
What is a small magnet used to give direction?
small magnet used to give direction
How does a loudspeaker use a electromagnet?
IN a loud speaker there are two magnets. one permanent magnet that always has its northpole pointing in the same direction , and one electro magnet that can change its magnetic field in direction and magnitude. IF both northpoles point into the same direciton ,the speaker cone is pushed out, if both point in opposite directions the speaker cone is pulled in. The direction and magnitude can be controlled by the current passing through the electro magnet.
A magnet suspended on a string or floating in water will always point in this direction?
N poles attract the S poles.
How heating demagnetises a magnet.?
A magnet works because the atoms of a magnet are all aligned in only a single uniform direction, in most cases due to the direction of north to south.Heating a magnet causes the alignment to be disturbed and be misaligned, thus losing its magnetic power.The temperature at which a heated magnet loses its magnetism is called the Curie Point named after Pierre Curie husband of Marie Curie.
What is the direction for if want to break a magnet in half to make some piece of magnet?
You can break it in any direction.
How do you magnetize a magnet?
keep striking it in one direction by another magnet
What direction does the needle on a compass point when a horseshoe magnet is put beside it?
The direction of the needle will remain unchanged. This is due to magnetic forces, the needle will remain in line with the lines of magnetic force which flow between the north and south poles.
Why does a freely suspended magnet point in the north-south direction?
A freely suspended magnet always points in north - south direction. This is because its south pole is attracted by earth 's north pole and the north pole of the magnet is attracted by the earth 's south pole. when we hang it freely it automatically starts pointing in north-south direction. The magnetic compass also works on the same principle.
What does the direction of the magnetic field depend on?
it depends on the north of a magnet and the south of a magnet
