2006-10-07 03:50:25 · 17 answers · asked by MIKE D 2 in Environment
'North' comes from old English and is related to old Norse 'northr'. I suppose that somebody decided that was what they were going to call that direction and probably before they knew about the compass. When the compass came into their hands it would have been natural to call the end that pointed 'northr' northr if you follow my thinking. Having said that I think the Chinese discovered the compass and I haven't a clue what they called north.
2006-10-07 04:21:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When mankind discovered the magnetic properties of lodestone, it was noticed that it pointed in the direction of the one star in the night sky that did not move - Polaris.
When navigating, it is useful to have a fixed point to act as a reference so this direction became North, it was useful that the lodestone (or magnet) pointed towards it.
There are three norths commonly in use in Cartography (map making):
Grid North: the direction of a grid line which is parallel to the central meridian on the National Grid.
True North: the direction of a meridian of longitude which converges on the North Pole.
Magnetic North: the direction indicated by a magnetic compass. Magnetic North moves slowly with a variable rate and currently is west of Grid North in Great Britain.
These three "North Poles" are not aligned, and do not actually line up with Astronomical North (the point where Polaris is directly overhead). However, that said, it has helped mankind travel across the face of the planet for hundreds of years, so why worry?
2006-10-07 04:15:12 · answer #2 · answered by Tony T 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Something that many don't realise is that the true North pole has to be the Magnetic South Pole as with polarity like poles repel and opposites attract... The magnetic North Pole is not in the Southern hemisphere...
2006-10-07 05:33:06 · answer #3 · answered by bovie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That was decided by the Druidic Council of the Wise in 726 A.D. Having discovered the peculiar properties of a sliver of lodestone floated on a cork, always pointing in the same direction they decided to call the direction "Bob" because that was who it pointed at. Then it was noticed that when Bob moved away from the bucket, the lodestone didn't follow him. So they decided it must be pointing at something further away. Ah, it pointed at the Norse! Bob, who suffered a split palette was chosen to spread the word, hence the term "North" came to exist.
2006-10-07 05:44:13 · answer #4 · answered by sparkletina 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
By convention.
What is realy amusing is that the compass actually points to a magnetic South Pole! (The magnetic North pole is in the southern hemisphere).
2006-10-07 03:57:49 · answer #5 · answered by Bill N 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Read `The Idea of North' by Peter Davidson if you want to open up the whole concept of North. It's a book I haven't read but I used to work in a small independent bookshop which is how I know of it.
2006-10-07 05:32:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not really sure, but the magnetic north pole is constantly changing. I think right now it is somewhere either in northern Canada or over Greenland which makes navigation in this remote region extremely difficult without help from the web of satellites overhead.
2006-10-07 04:25:09 · answer #7 · answered by wreck_beach 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is something to do with magnetic rock. And any time in the next million years, these will just change and North will be South and vice versa!!!!
2006-10-07 03:51:53 · answer #8 · answered by xMwahahahahahahax 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
THE MAGNETIC POLE= NORTH on the compass always has been always will be.
2006-10-07 04:29:58 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oliver North of course!
And there is two North's. Magnetic and True. Land navigation will drive you batty. That's why the good Lord gave us GPS!!!
GOD bless ya.
2006-10-07 03:59:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋