Does it point downwards or spins in confusing manner?
2006-09-25 01:34:25 · 12 answers · asked by Ed 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
At the North Pole it would point towards magnetic North as it would at the South Pole. Experiments show that the polarity of the poles changes and these is also a magnetic South Pole. At the Poles there are several areas of magnetism which are many miles apart but the concensus seems to be that the needle of a compass would point to the east. There is also a Geomagnetic North Pole which lies to the east of magnetic North although, technically when standing on the 'North Pole' all directions are south.
2006-09-25 01:48:26 · answer #1 · answered by quatt47 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would point down if it could and there are compasses that swing in the vertical to measure the angle of derivation. A the north or south pole it would point to the magnetic north or south pole which is a different thing from the geographic pole. At the magnetic pole it would I expect just stop moving in a random position
2006-09-25 01:39:34 · answer #2 · answered by Maid Angela 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At both the North and South pole the compass would point to magnetic North which is somewhere in northern Canada.
2006-09-25 01:38:18 · answer #3 · answered by David H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What poles? The geographical or the magnetic poles?
On the geographic poles the needle points to the magnetic poles.
On the magnetic pole (assuming this is a fixed point) I think it would be pointing downwards. All magnetic field lines are pointing one way: vertically strait into the earth with an angle of about 90 degr. The needle wants to be parallel to these field lines and will point right into earth if it had the freedom to move that way.
2006-09-25 02:48:46 · answer #4 · answered by Caveman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the core of the earth is iron,the magnetic poles change about every 400,000 years,from + to _,also a compass points to magnetic north,which is not true north,its off a few hundred miles
2006-09-25 03:54:02 · answer #5 · answered by john doe 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will flip swapping from north to south very quickly. It is a problem for aircraft and such that go that way. It interferes with lots of electrical equipment.
2006-09-25 01:37:09 · answer #6 · answered by davespnr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It points at the oposite pole.. no matter how fast it is spinning.
2006-09-25 01:37:03 · answer #7 · answered by jimmysaxo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spins slowly.
2006-09-25 01:36:55 · answer #8 · answered by stuntdouble_uk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
points north but itspincs slowly ard.
2006-09-25 01:55:56 · answer #9 · answered by Hermione J.Potter 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't it just spins around constantly.
2006-09-25 01:41:55 · answer #10 · answered by Daveo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋