Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: Joe L. Ogan on 19/12/2009 22:50:53

Title: Does a compass needle point north because it has a south orientation?
Post by: Joe L. Ogan on 19/12/2009 22:50:53

Does a compass needle point north because it has a south pole orientation or vice versa?  Does the north magnetic pole actually have a south pole orientation?  Thanks for information.  Joe L. Ogan

Title: Does a compass needle point north because it has a south orientation?
Post by: graham.d on 20/12/2009 10:02:32

What is called the earth's North Pole is, in fact, a magnetic south pole. The historic convention is that the north pole of a magnetic will point to the place on earth called the "North Pole" - strictly the "Magnetic North Pole" as it is not in exactly the same place.

Title: Does a compass needle point north because it has a south orientation?
Post by: LeeE on 20/12/2009 12:07:05

Hmm... I thought that the correct term for the end of the needle in a compass that points to magnetic north was the North seeking pole  i.e. it was actually a south pole and the terrestrial magnetic north pole is actually a North pole and not a South pole.   Umm... I'm confused now.

Title: Does a compass needle point north because it has a south orientation?
Post by: graham.d on 20/12/2009 16:37:21

According to wikipedia...

"The Earth's North Magnetic Pole is the point on the Earth's surface at which the Earth's magnetic field points vertically downwards (i.e., the "dip" is 90°). This point moves gradually with time. As described later in this article, the North Magnetic Pole is physically a magnetic field south pole."