How Does a Compass Work in the Modern World?

A compass works like a tiny magic magnet. The Earth has its own big magnet inside it, and the needle on the compass is also a magnet, but it's free to spin. When you point it in any direction, the compass needle moves until it lines up with the Earth’s magnetic field, which always points north.

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Examples

A child’s toy compass spins until it lines up with the Earth’s hidden magnet.
A hiker uses a compass to find their way back to camp after getting lost in the woods.
A ship at sea follows the direction of the compass needle as it moves across the ocean.

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Categories: Science · magnetism,earth science,navigation