what will happen if compass is put at North Pole or South pole?

Answer 1

Have you ever seen one of those pictures depicting the earth's magnetic field? If you haven't, here's one:

http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/acolvil/plates/magnetic_field.jpg

Now a compass always points "north," but you gotta be careful what you mean by north. The "north pole" can mean either geographic or magnetic. The geographic north pole is the point where all the longitude lines converge, but the magnetic north pole is where are the lines in the picture converge. Compasses point to magnetic north not geographic north.

The problem though is that magnetic north isn't on the surface of the earth...it's deep within the core. If you look at the picture closely, you'll note that all the lines enter toward the top and bottom of the globe, but they keep going below the surface. Now, if you're standing on the equator, those magnetic field lines are running parallel to the surface, but if you're standing on the poles, those lines are perpendicular to the surface.

Well compasses always align with those magnetic field lines. So if you're at the equator, your compass needle will be perfectly parallel to the surface and will point north. But if you're at the north pole, the needle will want to point straight down, because that's where the magnetic force is driving it.

But compasses are not always three dimensional. In fact, the vast majority of them have needles that can only turn in two directions (clockwise & counterclockwise). If you're standing on the north pole, your compass needle won't want to turn in either of these ways. Instead, it will want to follow the magnetic field lines. So if you're holding your compass straight out, the needle will want to point down (or "up" at the south pole. If you move around, the needle may try to spin a little, but won't get very far, because it will be stuck trying to point down.

Answer 2

The north magnetic pole is moving so compass at planet 'top'
will slowly correct itself over time but I'm not spending my lifetime focused on the subject. Get back to me after the next magnetic pole reversal. We are overdue, you know.

Answer 3

If it is put at the true north pole, it will show the direction of the magnetic north pole.

Answer 4

North pole - it will point in the direction of the magnetic north pole.
South Pole - it will point in the direction of the magnetic north pole.

Answer 5

If your talking "Geographic North Pole" then it will point to "Magnetic North." If you refering to being at "Magnetic North" then it will behave irractically.