What would cause a compass to spin?

A magnet is what makes a compass point north — the small magnetic pin in a compass is suspended so that it can spin freely inside its casing and respond to our planet’s magnetism.

What force causes the compass needle to point in a different direction?

Even when the magnet is removed, the compass is still being affected by magnetic forces – those associated with the Earth. These forces normally cause the compass needle to orient itself toward the north (unless another magnet interferes) and make the device useful for navigation.

What can affect the magnetic needle in a compass?

Metal objects, such as knives, gun barrels, belt buckles, etc., will affect a magnetic needle.

What causes the deflection of the needle in the compass?

A compass needle gets deflected when brought near a bar magnet because a magnetic compass can be considered as a pole, and the magnet creates a field. But if you move the magnet, the flux lines generated will be altered, and the magnetic needle experiences a force and deflects as long as you move the magnet.

What is a compass needle for?

The compass needle is a little steel magnet balanced upon a pivot; one end of the needle, which always bears a distinguishing mark, points approximately, but not in general exactly, to the north,’ the vertical plane through the direction of the needle being termed the magnetic meridian.

Why do magnetic needles point north?

The north pole of a compass magnet points toward the north. Earth’s south magnetic pole is near Earth’s geographic north. Earth’s magnetic north pole is near Earth’s geographic south. That’s why the north pole of a compass points toward north because that’s where Earth’s south magnetic pole is located and they attract.

What causes a compass to point north?

Why does the needle of a magnetic compass always point north?

Since unlike poles of a magnet attract each other, the north pole of the magnetic needle is attracted towards the south pole of the earth’s magnetic field, that is, approximately towards the geographical north pole. This is why a compass always points to the north.

What is deflection of magnetic needle?

When a magnetic needle is brought closer to a current carrying conductor then the magnetic needle it gets deflected because the magnetic field of the current carrying conductor exerts a force on the magnetic needle, making it move from one direction to the other.

What does the deflection in magnetic compass indicate?

Answer: A current carrying conductor produces a magnetic field around it. This magnetic field apply force on the magnetic needle of compass, and thus the needle shows deflection.

How does an external magnetic field affect a compass needle?

A compass needle will align itself with external magnetic fields. If the external field is static then the compass needle will remain stationary. If the external field is in motion, changing direction, the compass needle will follow accordingly. One thing’s for sure: your compass reading showed an unusual magnetic activity.

What causes a compass to take on a stable direction?

Other than those (the magnetic poles), one expects a compass to take on a stable directional reading, unless affected by local (not planetary) magnetic field sources. Large direct currents, such as the Pacific Direct Current Intertie see map might have such an effect over significant distances.

Do compasses work on other planets?

(Yes. My compass otherwise works correctly everywhere else.) There are at least two spots on Earth where the magnetic field of the planet is not horizontal, but is vertical. Other than those (the magnetic poles), one expects a compass to take on a stable directional reading, unless affected by local (not planetary) magnetic field sources.