Construction – Giant Magnetic Compass

Description

HOW IT WORKS: The two arm magnets have two points where the magnetic force is strongest. These parts are called poles. The Earth acts like a magnet, too. It is as if there were a giant bar magnet at the center of the Earth, with two magnetic poles near the Earth’s geographic north and south poles. The red poles of the magnets are attracted to the Earth’s magnetic pole, which is near the north geographic pole. These red poles are called north poles because they point north. The blue poles are attracted by the Earth’s south magnetic pole and are thus called south poles. The arm of the compass always rotates so that it points at the poles. Most compasses work like the Giant Magnetic Compass. The compass needle is magnetized at both ends and indicates direction when attracted by the Earth’s magnetic force.