Name:
FUN WITH
Follow the Needle: MAGNETS
MAKING A COMPASS
Every magnet you’ll see has a north-seeking and south-seeking pole, just like the
E
Earth, which is basically a giant magnet. If two magnets are brought together, the
north pole o of one will attract the south pole of the other. This is why compasses work
on the Earth
Earth. The Earth’s magnetic field is strong enough to make the north pole
of a very lig
light compass needle align with the magnetic south pole of the planet. If
you’re confu
confused (don’t compasses point north???), you may not realize that the Earth’s
geographic North Pole is the opposite of its magnetic north pole! In other words, the
geograp
planet’s geographic North Pole is its magnetic south pole, and vice versa.
plane
In tthis activity, you will make a magnet and see it respond to the bigger magnet
that is our planet. We show you two ways to do this. Either way, it’s important
tha
that there be no friction on the needle, so that it can respond to the slight tug of
tha
the Earth magnet.
th
WHAT YOU NEED: A bowl of A sewing needle A magnet
water or paper clip
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
Float the magnetized needle
First, magnetize your paper 2. very carefully on the surface
1. clip or sewing needle by of the water. The end that you
placing one end against the magnetized will point north or
end of your magnet. south, depending on how you
magnetized it.
NEED HELP? If you are having a hard time doing this, try placing the needle inside a drinking straw, on
a piece of cork or on anything that will help it float.
FUN WITH
MAGNETS MAKE A SIMPLE COMPASS
DID YOU KNOW? N
• A compass responds to the Earth’s
magnetic field. Scientists believe that field
is generated by the churning of very hot
liquid iron at the planet’s core.
• The Earth’s magnetic field does not run
exactly from the North Pole to the South
Pole, but is a little skewed. That’s called
the declination, and its effects, which
vary depending on where you are on the S
planet, can be seen on compasses.
Facts about the compass
• Compasses have been • Most modern-day
used for 1,000 years! compasses use a
Though people in China magnetized needle
were using a compass-like floating inside a fluid-
device as early as 1088, filled container. The
and pre-Columbian peoples fluid is most often
perhaps even before then, kerosene, oil or alcohol.
the compass as we know it
was created by Europeans • Compasses are part of
in the late 1100s. both Jewish and Islamic You can
prayer tradition, and also make a
• Use of the compass religious compasses are simple compass with
spread, like many other manufactured that show a piece of string and
customs, along trade routes. markings toward Jerusalem a bar magnet. Just
and Mecca so worshippers hang a string from
• People in cloudy climates, may face in that direction. the top of a doorway
where navigation by the In Islam, the prayer and tie a bar magnet
stars wasn’t possible, began compass is called a Qibla. to the string so it is
using the compass earlier evenly balanced. As
than the people who were • A Global Positioning it turns, it will settle
accustomed to clear skies. System, like those that and point north-south.
many people have in Learn more about
• The compass has been their cars, is actually an compasses by playing
used as a tool in the mining electronic compass. with a virtual compass
industry since the 1200s. in an online tutorial at
[Link].
(Search for compass.)
