Why do compasses point north?
Quick Answer
A compass needle points north because it is a tiny magnet that aligns with Earth’s magnetic field. The “north” end of the needle is attracted toward the magnetic south near Earth’s geographic North Pole.
The Full Story
Earth acts like a giant magnet because electric currents and fluid motions in its liquid iron outer core generate a magnetic field. A compass needle rotates until it lines up with that field. The result is that the needle’s north-seeking end points toward magnetic north, which is close to but not exactly the geographic North Pole. The magnetic poles wander over time, and the magnetic north pole has moved hundreds of kilometers in recent decades.
Key Facts
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