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Why does a compass point North?
A compass points north because of the Earth's magnetic field. The magnetic field exerts a force on the needle of a compass, aligning it with the magnetic north pole, which is close to the geographic North Pole.
What is the name of a magnetized needle that swings freely?
A Compass! A common science experiment involves rubbing a magnet down a needle (only one way!) and putting it in a "boat" in a bowl of water to demonstrate a simple compass! The Earth has a core of iron. This makes a magnetic field, with north pointing (almost*) at the north pole, and south at the south pole. *Magnetic north is not the north pole. Actually, compasses point to a place in northern Canada
Why do people use magnetic north?
People use magnetic north as a reference point for navigation using a compass because the Earth's magnetic field causes the needle of a compass to align with the magnetic north pole. This makes it easier to determine directions when traveling.
What metal makes compass go haywire?
Iron can make a compass go haywire as it can create magnetic interference. When a compass is near iron or magnetic objects, it can disrupt the Earth's magnetic field that the compass relies on for accurate readings.
At the earths magnetic north pole it is pointless trying to use a compass to find your way?
That's correct. At the magnetic North Pole, the Earth's magnetic field lines are nearly vertical, causing compass needles to point straight downwards. This makes it difficult to navigate using a compass, as it will not give accurate readings.
