Earth as a Magnet
During class we had an exciting
opportunity to work with magnets. We used magnets in order to understand more
of the difference between geographical north and magnetic north. In the
experiment we were given a magnet and asked to draw a circle as the Earth. Then
we got a compass to rotate around the Earth. We figured out something unusual,
the compass was pointing to the south instead of the north. Why, you might ask?
Well…
A magnet is any object that has a
magnetic field. It attracts objects like iron, steel and nickel. In the past, Greeks detected that the
‘lodestone' attracted iron pieces. From then is when they started the discovery
of magnets. It has been proven by experiments that like magnetic poles repel
each other whereas unlike poles attract each other. (1)This is the reason why
the north is not really the true north because like poles repel. This is actually because the arctic pole is
actually a magnet’s South Pole. Since the Earth is a magnet itself, the arctic
pole is the Earth’s south.
(2)
There is a difference between the ‘true’
north and magnetic north. True north also known as geographical north and south
are the endpoints
of the axis where the Earth rotates. They never change so they are used in
geography and maps. Unlike the geographical north, the magnetic north and south
change and are close to being
perpendicular to the equator.
(3)
There
are angle to better understand and calculate the magnetic north and magnetic
field. Magnetic declination is the angle between the magnetic north and true
north. The angle of inclination is between the
earth’s surface and the magnetic field. For example, in Toronto the angle of
declination is 9 degrees north-west.
In conclusion, we know now that the
‘North’ pole is not really the ‘North’ pole but initially to make life a lot
easier it is called the North Pole. Physics has a great way of changing the
minds of many but in the end we all still like to believe that we were right.
Bibliography
1.
Geno J. (2006). How Magnets Work. Retrieved February, 26, 2012, from http://www.howmagnetswork.com/
2.
How Magnets
Work. (2006). [Diagram]. Geno
Jezek. Retrieved February 26, 2012, from http://www.howmagnetswork.com/
3.
Reid, P. (Photographer). (2007). The earth's magnetic field. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2AiK8qGfUSbwK_XMmAz4a0J7Jv8VYdr07cDRwJA3LntIwgBITf5uKzKoIeCJRHgRZ7NSN4_rjNEIlsJvYMqqRT-33j7E-lm9izajo2XB8Ys1txWVyNbqb7W5alSsyG_hn4C-OFv9GKU/s1600/earth-magfield.jpg
