They also had observed that needles cooled from red heat and held in the north-south orientation (the earth's axis) would become magnetic. These more refined needle compasses could then be floated in ...

The needle will turn and then come to a complete stop. It will be facing magnetic north. You can check this by placing the compass next to the bowl. The needle is being affected by the Earth’s ...

Whether you realize it or not, the earth has a magnetic field that is essentially anchored by two poles -- magnetic north and ...

Would it still point north, or would it aimlessly spin in the absence of a dominant magnetic field? The answer depends on where you are in the cosmos and what other magnetic fields are at play. On ...