GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Compasses are mainly used in navigation to find direction on the earth. This works because the Earth itself has a magnetic field which is similar to that of a bar magnet. The compass needle aligns with the Earth’s magnetic field direction and points north-south.

Detailed explanation-2: -Compass needles line up with magnetic fields. Since Earth is a magnet, a compass will normally line up with Earth’s magnetic field. Because opposite magnetic poles attract, the magnetic north pole of the compass points toward the magnetic south pole of the Earth.

Detailed explanation-3: -A magnetic compass points to magnetic north pole, which is approximately 1, 000 miles from the true geographic North Pole. A magnetic compass’s user can determine true North by finding the magnetic north and then correcting for variation and deviation.

Detailed explanation-4: -At poles magnetic field is perpendicular to the surface of the earth. Hence, a compass needle will show in vertical direction at the earth’s magnetic pole.

Detailed explanation-5: -A compass can be used to detect presence of magnetic field as it will deflect from its N-S direction to direction if magnetic field at that point.