Well a compass will stay North if on the northern most point of the magnetic poles. What happens is that as soon as you start to pass over the point you will notice that the compass needle will change directions and point to north in the opposite direction you are walking. It's like having a string tied to the a pole and having it taught in one direction, then passing the pole in the other direction the string stays connected to the same point. Doesn't anyone watch the discovery channel? Lot's of cool info on there!
stupid rediculos pointless question
- Thread starter jdstooge
- Start date
It is hypothesized that if you were to stand directly on magnetic north (and we're talking about an accuracy to minutes, not just degrees) the needle would spin. There is a theory that states the reason the earths magnetic field is the way it is is because the core spins a different way than the rest, it's called the dynamo theory; and this supposedly creates our magnetic field. Since the earth isn't a perfect sphere (it's actually a spheroid) that means that the magnetic field is always fluctuating.
If you want to find the north pole, instead of magnetic north get a gyrocompass. Or maybe even a GPS (lol).
If you take your North American compass to Australia it will point south, but most compass in the Southern Hemisphere to make the bottom of the needle be attracted to the south pole so your needle still points north.
And who said taking astronomy instead of real science in college was a waste?
If you want to find the north pole, instead of magnetic north get a gyrocompass. Or maybe even a GPS (lol).
If you take your North American compass to Australia it will point south, but most compass in the Southern Hemisphere to make the bottom of the needle be attracted to the south pole so your needle still points north.
And who said taking astronomy instead of real science in college was a waste?
cassharper;2615187; said:
Thank you! I was starting to get worried with the responses here. The North American needle will point south due to the stronger pole being south not north. So as was stated the compasses made there are made backwards compared to the northern hemisphere counter part.
I can only think this would have brought some confusion to british salors sailing around the low point of africa.
dr_sudz;2615221; said:
Correct. A compass isn't magic, it just points to the area of strongest magnetic attraction. The fact that all compasses made today point north, is the fault of manufacturers, not nature.
Meet the earth's magnetic field. Below the equator and you are closer to the south pole, above; the north pole.
jimv8673;2615276; said:
I know, wanting to figure out how a compass works is such a terrible idea
channarox;2616301; said:
lol, I guess in theory it would spin there too. Granted, you will never be directly on the equator (equidistant from both poles).
