The Earth Whisperer
The compass — a magnet that always knows north
What this lesson covers
Why it matters
Sailors crossed oceans, traders crossed deserts — guided by a needle that always, stubbornly, swings back to north. The needle isn't clever. It's just listening to a magnet the size of the planet.
Predict first
A compass needle always settles pointing north-south because…
The needle is a tiny magnet, and the Earth is an enormous one — every compass conversation is between the two.
- the Earth itself behaves like a giant magnet — correct
- the needle remembers directions
- wind pushes it
What you do
Walk the little compass around the bar magnet and watch the needle listen at every station.
Check yourself
A compass is used to…
North found, all else follows — the navigator's oldest instrument.
The compass needle is really a…
Magnet + freedom to turn = direction finder. That's the whole machine.
Bring the N poles of two magnets together. They…
Like repels, unlike attracts — and a strong magnet nearby can even overpower the Earth''s gentle pull on a compass needle, which is why you keep them apart.
- find directions — correct
- measure weight
- tell the time
- small, freely-swinging magnet — correct
- piece of plain plastic
- tiny motor
- push apart — like poles repel, unlike poles attract — correct
- stick together
- do nothing