Competency #8
Answer and Explanation
A compass contains a thin magnet, usually called a ‘needle.' The end of the compass needle marked ‘north' will point toward the area of the earth we call the north pole. Explain how this is contradictory to our understanding of magnets.
Answer:
We observe that the north pole of one magnet repels the north pole of a second magnet (and the north pole of one magnet will attract the south pole of a second magnet. Therefore, it makes no sense that the north pole of the earth would be attracted to the north pole of the compass needle.
Assuming that the compass needle has its poles correctly marked, we can conclude that the geographic north pole of the earth is actually a south pole, magnetically speaking.
© 2008 Anne Arundel Community College