Re: south in the north

[jat178@psu.edu (Joe Taylor)]

At  4:13 PM 5/3/98 -0700, William Beaty wrote:
> Here is last week's ASK MARILYN column in the sunday paper Parade section.
> I've not complained as yet. The email address is marilyn@parade.com
>
>
> > WHY DOES THE NORTH END OF A COMPASS NEEDLE ALWAYS POINT NORTH?  IF LIKE
> > POLES REPEL (AND UNLIKE POLES ATTRACT), SHOULDN'T THE NORTH END POINT
> > SOUTH INSTEAD?
> >
> > The north pole of a compass needle DOES point south.  It's the
> > "north-SEEKING" pole that points to the Earth's magnetic north.  So the
> > end of the compass needle marked N (for north) is actually the south
> > pole of the compass needle.  This is supposed to avoid confusion!

William,

It is my understanding that the earth's south magnetic pole coincides
roughly with the north geographic pole. Therefore, the north pole of a
compass needle does point north because it is attracted to the earth's
south magnetic pole. This is easily demonstrated by bringing the south pole
of a bar magnet near the north pole of a compass needle.  The needle will
be attracted.

Joe

*****************************************************************************
Joseph A. Taylor
Physics Teacher
Middletown Area High School
1155 N. Union St.
Middletown, PA 17057
(717) 948-3333
jat178@psu.edu
http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/j/a/jat178/

"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants". -
Isaac Newton (5 Feb. 1675)

GO NITTANY LIONS!
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