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Re: south in the north



Joe Taylor wrote:

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

Joe Taylor is correct. The magnetic pole near the Earth's North pole is
a South Magnetic pole.