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One side of the needle points north. This is the one that is usually considered, so you would say that the "needle points north", but of course, the other side points south. The part that points north is usually specially marked.

The magnetic compass reacts to Earth's magnetic field, which doesn't exactly coincide with Earth's rotation, so there may be some deviation, that is, it may not point exactly north.

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14y ago
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4w ago

No, the needle in a compass always points towards the magnetic North Pole, not South. It aligns itself with the Earth's magnetic field and points north.

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Q: Does the needle in a compass always point south?
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Related questions

Where will a compass point if you face south?

If you point the north side of the compass away from you the compass will point south. Because the needle always points north (magnetism).


What can be used for a compass?

a freely suspended magnetic needle as it will always point to the north - south direction


What does the painted point of a compass always always point North?

The painted point of a compass always points north due to the magnetized needle aligning itself with Earth's magnetic field. This provides a reliable reference to determine direction and navigate accurately in various settings.


A compass has a small balanced pointer that always points north-south this is because?

the compass needle is magnetized and aligns itself with Earth's magnetic field, which causes it to point north-south. This allows travelers to determine their direction accurately by observing the alignment of the compass needle with the Earth's magnetic field.


Does the compass always point north in Antarctica?

You would think so, but no.The South Pole and the South Magnetic Pole -- compass magnets -- are substantially different, they are about 2,700 km apart.The South Pole is at 90 degrees S latitude, and the South Magnetic Pole is at about 64.7 degrees S latitude and 139.9 E longitude which puts it about 110 km off the Antarctic continent towards Australia.Another AnswerA compass needle always aligns itself with the earth's magnetic field. It doesn't matter where the compass is located, it will always align with that field. So one end of the compass needle will always point in the general direction of North while the opposite end will always point in the general direction of South.


Why does the compass point north in the southern hemisphere?

The Earth's magnetic field causes a compass needle to align itself with the magnetic North Pole, regardless of the hemisphere you are in. This means that the compass will point north in both the northern and southern hemispheres because of the Earth's magnetic properties.


Why does a compass needle point in the north and south direction?

A compass needle aligns with the Earth's magnetic field, which has a north and south pole. The north-seeking end of the magnet is attracted to the Earth's magnetic south pole, causing the needle to point north.


Determine the direction in which a compass needle will point when held above a wire with positive charges moving west?

The compass needle will point towards the wire, perpendicular to the current flow. Since the positive charges are moving west, the magnetic field generated by their movement will induce a force on the compass needle causing it to point towards the wire.


A needle on a compass always point to what pole?

The North Pole.Another AnswerA compass needle points to the location called 'Magnetic North', named to distinguish it from 'True North'. Magnetic North is several hundred miles away from True North.


If there was a magnet beside a compass would the compass point to the north or south?

If there is a magnet beside a compass, the compass needle would be influenced by the magnetic field of the magnet rather than Earth's magnetic field. The needle would point towards the opposite pole of the magnet, so if the magnet's north pole is beside the compass, the compass needle would point towards the south.


In the southern hemisphere the north pole of a compass needle?

points towards the south. In the southern hemisphere, the Earth's magnetic field causes the north pole of a compass needle to point towards the magnetic south pole.


How does a compass needle respond when a compass needle is placed within a magnetic field?

A compass needle, as well as everything else on Earth, is ALWAYS within a magnetic field. If the compass needle is free to turn, it will align itself with the magnetic field, and point along the north/south axis of the field. If another magnetic field source appears near the compass ... such as a current-carrying electrical conductor, or a toy magnet in somebody's pocket ... whose field strength is comparable to the Earth's, then the compass will deflect, and realign itself along the north/south axis of the SUM of the fields.