Compass and magnetism

How does a compass work?

Please read the addendum at the end of the article to fully understand.

The planet earth has a natural magnetic force. The north pole and south pole are the poles of the magnet and the equator is the neutral zone. A compass needle always points north and south. This phenomenon is created because, in the magnetic field opposites attract and like poles repel. The needle of a compass is nothing more than a small magnet with a north pole and a south pole. The north pointing end of the needle is a south pole and the south pointing end of the needle is the north pole. The pull of the north and south poles are of equal strength, therefore whenever the needle is in the northern hemisphere, the south pole of the needle attracts to the north pole of the planet. Once the compass crosses the neutral zone or equator the pull of the south pole attracts the north pole of the compass needle. The compass is still pointing north, because the attraction of the south pole is on the north pole of the magnetized needle. If the compass were to be placed precisely on the equator it would become null.

In actuality, the magnetic force of the earth consists of two fields, a north field and a south field flowing in opposite fluxes with a neutral point precisely in the center at the equatorial plane.

ADDENDUM Thanks to J William (Bill) Smith Perth Australia
E-mail Address(es):
bsmith@multiline.com.au
Bill was smart enough to put a gauss meter on a compass needle and find out the north pointing arrow was really a north field. That means the northern hemisphere is a southern field and the southern hemisphere is a northern field. Thanks Bill !!!