How Does a Compass Work

A magnetic compass is a device that has been used for centuries now, and its utility in helping people find their way is undoubted. Before technology gave us the privilege of GPS navigation systems, the act of finding out where you are and which side is north was carried out simply with the help of a compass. We've all seen a compass at some point or the other, and this has almost always led us to the question "How does a compass work?" The answer to this question can be explained through the concept of the earth's electromagnetism.

Simply speaking, a compass is basically a small magnet that has a needle attached on one end. The other end of the magnet is attached to a freely moving pivot. When the compass is held out steadily, the magnet aligns with the magnetic field of the Earth, and this causes it to point north. This is not something unique to a compass, it is simply something that happens with every magnet. Every magnet on the planet will show a slight degree of attraction to the Earth's magnetic North pole. To know how does a compass work, all you need to know is that it evolved from the simple concept of magnets.

Working of Compass
The cause of a compass always pointing north is the presence of a magnetic field constantly present under the Earth's surface. This magnetic force is present under all parts of the surface of the Earth, and attracts the magnet that is present in the compass. Opposite charges always attract and the magnetic compass makes use of this property. Before the advent of highly advanced navigational gadgets that we have today, there was no way to find out where you are at any point in time, without using the aid of a compass.

By providing information about which direction is north, the compass could help anyone who felt that they were lost. Sailors and other adventurers found this quality extremely useful in those times and regularly made use of this device in order to figure out where they are. Knowing how does a compass work is made clear when you understand that the magnetic force of the earth is present at all places at all times. Though this force is not very strong but its presence is clearly felt at any spot. The magnetic needle of the compass moves because it is frictionless, and therefore there is nothing to stop the needle from moving. Even a slight obstacle to the movement of the needle will make it impossible to move.

How Does a Compass Work in the Southern Hemisphere?
The magnetic force of the Earth varies a little bit in the Southern hemisphere, so compasses sometimes behave differently. To solve this problem one must use a global compass, that works at any place on Earth. Since compasses are always attracted to the magnetic force of the North pole, being in the Southern hemisphere slightly disrupts the effect of the compass. To solve this problem, a small weight is attached to the needle in order to make it point north, no matter where on Earth the compass is used. The effect of the magnetic pull of the South pole can cause some disruption, but this is a problem that has been solved a long time ago.

A magnetic compass comes in handy for people who go hiking or exploring the woods, and especially for sailors. In today's world there are other advanced devices that do the same job as a compass, but they are all based on the concept of a magnetic compass. Once you have understood how does a compass work, it is easy to see why it has been around for so many years. The simplicity with which it can be made is commendable, and even today there are still many people who gladly choose to use an old-fashioned magnetic compass.