Compass
Contents
Key Stage 3
Meaning
A compass is a very small magnet that can freely spin around its center to show the direction of a magnetic field.
About Compasses
- A compass will point with one end towards the North Seeking Pole and the other towards the South Seeking Pole.
- The end which points to the North is called the North Seeking Pole and the one pointing to the South is the South Seeking Pole.
- Some very small compasses are used to draw the magnetic field around a magnet. These are called plotting compasses.
Examples
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| These compasses show the direction of the magnetic field of a bar magnet. | These compasses show the direction of Earth's magnetic field. |
Key Stage 4
Meaning
A compass is a very small magnet that can freely spin around its center to show the direction of a magnetic field.
About Compasses
- A compass will point with one end towards the North Seeking Pole and the other towards the South Seeking Pole.
- Then end which points to the North is called the North Seeking Pole and the one pointing to the South is the South Seeking Pole.
- Compasses show that the Earth acts like a large magnet with the North of the Earth being a South Seeking Pole.
- Some very small compasses are used to draw the magnetic field around a magnet. These are called plotting compasses.
Examples
| |
|
| These compasses show the direction of the magnetic field of a bar magnet. | These compasses show the direction of Earth's magnetic field. This shows that the North of the Earth is a South Seeking Pole of a magnet. |
References
AQA
- Compass, pages 246, 260, GCSE Physics; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Compass; plotting, page 245, GCSE Physics; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Compasses, page 217, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Physics, CGP, AQA
- Compasses, page 222, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
- Compasses, page 229, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Compasses, page 290, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA
- Compasses, page 92, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Compasses, pages 276, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA