One way to make a compass stick to a magnetized needle into a piece of cork and...?

Question

float it in a glass bowl full of water. The needle is align itself with the horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic field. Since the north pole of this compass is attracted northward, will the needle float toward the north side of the bowl? Defend your answer.

Answer 1

You might think of the magnetic lines of flux as a rubber band. When you insert the needle into the field, it aligns itself WITH the line, but is equally attracted in opposite directions ALONG the line, so It aligns east and west, but does not move north or south.

Answer 2

My answer is that it will not. Consider the forces acting con.
1. bouyancy upward of the cork-needle
2. lateral movement to the center of the bowl which is the highest point of the convex meniscus due to surface tension of the water.
3, Viscous friction of the water opposing fluid motion of an immersed body of a certain area normal to the motion
4. Torsion on the magnetic needle which is a force couple
S to northpole, n to south pole. Which is a rotation, not translation.
5. Attraction on the south pole of needle along the surface opposed by attraction on north pole pulling it the other way
6. The only pro is the miniscule horizontal compone nt of
Earth's magnetic field

Answer 3

Northside Glass Cork

Answer 4

No the needle will remain at rest.The magnetic field of earth will exert equal and opposite forces on the two poles of the needle. The forces will balance each other,keeping the needle at rest.

Answer 5

no the needle will not float towards the north side of the bowl.
the needle will point north. why not try this our for yourself and see.

Answer 6

No, because the other end is equally attracted south.

Answer 7

thanks to each and everyone of you for the replies.