If we hang freely a magnetic needle, then it will align in the earth's north-south direction.?

Question

If we suspend freely a magnetic needle by a thread, then it will align in the earth's north-south direction.i.e north pole of the magnetic needle is in north side of the earth and south pole of the magnetic needle is in the south side of the earth. But north-north or south-south poles will repel each other. Then why the magnetic needle aligns in this way? please send this answer to [e-mail]

Answer 1

this is because the north pole of earth acts as the magnetic south pole and the geographic south pole as magnetic north pole
so naturally.... the north pole of magnet would align itself to magnetic south pole (ie. earths north pole) and south pole towards magnetic north pole or geographic south pole
.................i hop thatz the aswer to ur question

Answer 2

The Earth's magnetic pole in the north is actually a "south pole". The end of the needle which points North is called North, so by the rules of attraction, the place it is pointing must be a South pole.

Answer 3

Remember that 'North', 'South' etc are names given by us. Either the earth or a magnet does not indicate any name to its parts. The end of the magnet which points to the pole of the earth which we have named as north is also named as 'North" by us so that we can later use it to find the directions. The end of the magnet named 'North' and the pole of the earth named 'North' are in reality opposite poles without names!]
By the by, we do not hang a magnet, we suspend it so that it is free to oscillate!

Answer 4

(1) Why should I send answers by e-mail, when I can post them here for everybody to see and criticize?

(2) The needle aligns that way because one end is attracted to the Earth's north pole, and the other end to the Earth's south pole. We call the end that is attracted to the Earth's north pole, the "North" end of the magnet, and the other end we call the "South" end.

So yes, the Earth's north pole is like the needle's south pole.

Answer 5

They don't align north north or south south as far as I know. If you take a needle and put it on top of a film canister cap in a bowl of water if will align properly with the earth's magnetic north/south. Also the needle doesn't need to be magnetic.

Answer 6

The earth's North Pole is actually a magnetic south pole. The poles of a magnet are called "north" and "south" because of the direction they point when used as a magnet.

Answer 7

Earth's Magnetic North Pole is not stationery, it will also keep shifting its position. So assume if you stand right on top of Earth's Magnetic North Pole, then your Magnetic Compass needle will keep wandering randomly, it may not point in one direction.

Answer 8

as it is suspended it alings first to earths north -south direction.
but the earth's north and nedles north repel each other thus aligns as
north of magnet facing south and south of magnet facing north of earth magnetic field

Answer 9

Yes, a magnet will do what you're asking. Label N, S, E and W correctly and you have yourself a compass.

Answer 10

i don't think that will work....I'm not sure about it. try this: place the needle on a small piece of polythene cover or even a leaf, place them in water. then the needle will align in the N-S direction (provided the leaf or polythene cover ain't too big or heavy)