GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -A magnet is what makes a compass point north-the small magnetic pin in a compass is suspended so that it can spin freely inside its casing and respond to our planet’s magnetism.

Detailed explanation-2: -Magnetic compasses consist of a magnetized needle that is allowed to rotate so it lines up with Earth’s magnetic field. The ends point to what are known as magnetic north and magnetic south.

Detailed explanation-3: -What happens to the compass needles? They will point north, orienting themselves so that they are parallel to Earth’s magnetic field. (Note: A few of your compasses may point south! Inexpensive compasses that are exposed to a strong magnet will sometimes become magnetized in the reverse direction.

Detailed explanation-4: -When a magnet is held close to the compass needle, it will induce a magnetic field in the needle. If the magnet and the compass needle have opposite polarities, the north pole of the compass needle will be attracted to the south pole of the magnet, and the compass needle will move toward the magnet.

Detailed explanation-5: -Yes a magnet can damage a compass. The compass needle is a ferromagnetic material. The degree to which a ferromagnetic material can “withstand an external magnetic field without becoming demagnetized” is referred to as its coercivity.