If you took a compass into space, which way would it point?

Answer 1

that way <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Answer 2

Depends of what type of compass you mean.

A magnetic compass would point towards the most significant magnetic object. If you were in space craft it could be source inside the craft. If near the earth, then maybe towards the earth but the bearing on the compass wouldn't be designed for dealing with your altitude so it might give problems (and oil filled compasses would probably freeze solid in the space so wouldn't point anywhere). If in interplanetary space then the sun would have some effect on the direction.

A gyroscopic compass would be completely thrown. Even on earth the use of naval gyroscopic compasses on aircraft, unless corrected, give errors.

An astrocompass depends on certain assumptions about the axis of rotation of the earth and being used from the surface of the earth, so it would give misleading values if used any significant distance from Earth Orbit.

Answer 3

Well, my friend and I, we thought long and hard about this, so in the interests of science and all things amazing, we decided to go into space ourselves.
Wow... I'm not sure if what we took was a compass, but my collegue firmly believes that it was pointing towards something!
It's all out there...
man
Needless to say we crash landed and that was that.
If we ever go into space again I will try and be a bit more scientific!
Seriously though, it would point in the direction of the nearest magnetic source.

Answer 4

Most planets, moons, etc will have magnetic fields, with a "north" pole and "south" pole. The compass would register the nearest of these.

A compass will also "get confused" by large metal objects, so if in a spacecraft, you might find the compass needle arbitrarily pointing to the largest lump of ferrous metal in the craft.

Answer 5

Depends what you mean by "into space".

A magnetic needle lines up with magnetic field lines, normally those of the Earth - but on Earth we have to weight one end of the needle to keep it horizontal, as the field lines are inclined to the surface in most parts of the world. In earth orbit it will also line up with the Earth's field, but since weighting won't work, you would need a compass free to rotate in three dimensions to allow it to take up its alignment.

If you were far enough from Earth to be out of the influence of the Earth's field, the Sun would probably be the strongest magnetic source - though if you approached Jupiter you'd get a much stronger field than Earth's or the Sun's.

In interstellar space you would encounter only extremely weakened fields from distant stars, and magnetism caused by electricity in your spaceship would overwhelm any outside source.

Answer 6

Gravity has no longer something to do with it by any potential. The compass will ingredient to the northern pole of the main useful magnetic field. in case you're interior the earth's orbit, it is going to maximum probable be the earth's magnetic field. in case you're farther away, it may be the sunlight's magnetic field. And, as somebody else so righly posed, the craft you're in would be producing the main useful magnetic field. area isn't empty. Even between galaxies there continues to be an exceedingly very susceptible magnetic impression. the sole exception to that's that the magnetic field won't be stable adequate for the needle to triumph over its static friction to go.

Answer 7

It would point to the largest mass of iron, because a compass needle is itself magnetic.
Try waving a lump of iron, not steel because steel can become magnetic and iron cannot, at a compass needle and see what happens.

Answer 8

In space, farther away from the effect of any magnetic force, the small body of the compass, while stationary, will point nowhere except where you will direct it by motion or direct it with another magnetic object close by. Remember that you lose gravity, weight and forces of attraction when deep into space.

Answer 9

It would point along the lines drawn towards the magnetic southpole (today our north pole), but since these almost have a circular look to them when you reach space, it's a bit hard to describe without a picture.

So here is one. Along those red lines is more or less how it would point.

Answer 10

it depends wether you are near any planets or anything, because then it would be affected by their magnetic field. I think that if you took it somewhere that there was no magnetic field near by, it would just sort of float around (if there was no gravity) or, if there was gravity, point towards the ground, whatever point on the comopass that happened to be at the time.

Answer 11

It would point along the magnetic field line, just as it would on the earth although on the field lines on the earth run south to north!