NEED HELP UNDERSTANDING MAGNETIC Poles!?

Question

My textbook says that:

The magnetic north pole is the magnetic S pole which is in northern canada and isn't exactly the geographical north pole.

Also, it says that the magnetic south pole is the magnetic N pole which is in antartica (or something).

The thing that I'm confuzed about is does a compass needle point to magnetic N (magnetic South) or the magnetic S (magnetic North) pole. And how can a compass help us determine which way north is if it isn't even the real direction of the geographical north!

Answer 1

The magnetic field of the earth create a magnetic north pole which is differnet from the true north pole or grid north. However the difference between these two can be measured and compensated for so even though a compass points to magnetic north and maps are based on true north, it is easy to adjust from one to the other.

From any point on the earth, draw a line from that point to the true north pole and another line from that point to the magnetic north pole. The angle created is the difference between true north and magnetic north. Mariners call this difference magnetic variation and land people call it magnetic deviation. For any location, local maps usually give the local declination or variation, so you can adjust your compass accordingly. If you are at a point on the earth where these two things are in line, you are on what is called the Agonic Line and no correction is necessary. If you are west of the agonic line, you need to correct one way. If you are east of the line, you need to correct the other.

In the United States, the agonic line runs roughly through Wisconsin and then a bit easterly through Florida. You can get a just a bit beyond 20 degrees east or west declination in the continental US as you move away from this line.

The importance of compensating for declination or variation depends on how large this is and what you are trying to accomplish. With a variance of 20 degrees or less in most of the US, they are close enough, that if you just want to know generally which way is north, using your compass without any adjustments is fine.

For more accurate direction finding, many compasses have a rotating housing which allows you to either add or subtract the local declination so you can easily compensate for the differences between magnetic and true north. On nautical charts, you will see two rings with number known as compass roses which allow you to work with either true north or magnetic north or easily change between them.

Hope this was helpful!

Answer 2

If you look at a compass you will find that one side is painted and the other side is silvery (usually). The painted side points N (and the other side points S).

If you happen to be on the Great Circle that passes through both the North Pole and the North Magnetic pole, a compass is exactly accurate until you reach one of these poles. Elsewhere, if you have a map and know where you are, you can generally find the declination, or error between compass N and true N, for that longitude on the map. The closer you get to either pole the less reliable the compass is until it does become useless.

Answer 3

First the compass follows neither pole but the magnetic field of the Earth. So the compass points at both poles at the same time.

Secondly, to use a compass correctly you need a map. Correct orientation uses a compass to track your progress over a map, or find you bearings in relation to your current position, so you can find your way back again.

Answer 4

A sudden shift in the magnetic poles would be devastating but it has been determined that the last shift took over a million years. If you're going to believe that the world is going to end in 2012 I believe you are wrong. The world has been supposed to end for thousands of years according to various sources and although "Life as they knew it" changed from time to time the world never ended. The Mayans today do not believe the world will end, but the calender will. The only people afraid of 2012 are probably the ones that saw the movie. They should try and learn the difference between real life and Hollywood special effects.

Answer 5

The one marked N points to the place in Canada

the magnetic pole is moving constantly and each year ICAO publishes the figure you have to add or subtract to the reading to get the true North

Answer 6

compass needle point to magnetic N (magnetic South), this is because they are opposite charges so they attract