If you were on the moon, could you use a compass to find the north pole of the moon?
2006-09-19 12:07:41 · 25 answers · asked by Benz_Email 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
no, and not because there is no gravity. Its because the moon doesnt have its own magnetic field. (Like the earth does.)
2006-09-19 12:10:39 · answer #1 · answered by Raven 2 · 6⤊ 1⤋
A lot of answers that have correct information but draw the wrong conclusions.
The accurate information is:
The moon does have gravity.
Compasses do not use gravity to function.
The moon does not have a magnetic field.
The conclusion that you can not use a compass on the moon is wrong, though. You can, but the compass will not point to the moon's north pole, it will point to the earth's north pole. That is because the earth's magnetic field can be detected on the moon, even though it is very very weak that far away. The compass will react to that field (albiet feebly) if there is nothing to interfere with it.
Keep in mind that magnetic fields are a form of electromagnetic energy and gets weaker with distance per the inverse square law, but it does not stop and disappear before it gets to the moon.
2006-09-20 01:33:26 · answer #2 · answered by sparc77 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The moon does indeed have gravity, those people are wrong. All things that have dimensions and mass have gravity, even the tiniest sub-atomic particles, this is a fundamenal rule of Physics.
However your compass would not work on the moon, this is due to magnetic poles, the moon does not spin on its own axis and therefore has no magnetic poles. It is more complicated than that simple explanation.
2006-09-19 13:27:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have no idea where people got the idea that a compass works on gravity.....
Anyways, no a compass would not work on the moon because the moon does not have a magnetic field and a compass works by utilizing a magnetic field.
The Earth's magnetic field is caused by electric currents in the liquid outer core, not by solid iron as some may think.
2006-09-19 12:13:32 · answer #4 · answered by polloloco.rb67 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Depends what you want to use the compass for, I doubt if you'll see the point though. (there was a joke there).
But seriously, I would say no, the magnetic pull from between the 2 poles is only apparent on earth. Scratch your a-r-s-e with it instead.
2006-09-19 12:21:58 · answer #5 · answered by ChrisAds 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
You could draw lots of circles all over the moon with your compass, you just need to get there first *:)
2006-09-19 12:46:04 · answer #6 · answered by Jabba_da_hut_07 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
oh course there is a gravitational pull - how do u think the astronauts were able to bounce around the surface - its just less than the earths
im guessing there would be movement in the compass - i just dont know to what effect
sorry
2006-09-19 12:26:58 · answer #7 · answered by olivier1uk 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. You can bisect lines and do all kinds of neat things with a compass.
Just remember to bring your moonmap, and you can plot a nice hike to the north pole with your compass.
2006-09-19 12:10:34 · answer #8 · answered by El Gringo 237 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Compasses that work on gravity - that's really brought a smile to my face, thank-you! I'm gonna be giggling about that one all day... :))
2006-09-21 00:59:21 · answer #9 · answered by cuddles_gb 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, the moon has no global magnetic field like the Earth.
2006-09-19 12:22:15 · answer #10 · answered by Otis F 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't think the moon has magnetic poles so no, I don't think so.
2006-09-20 02:00:02 · answer #11 · answered by Eddy G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋