Subject: [harryproa] Re:southern hemisphere compass. |
From: "Robert" <cateran1949@yahoo.co.uk> |
Date: 1/14/2009, 4:14 PM |
To: harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au |
Reply-to: harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au |
-sorry I hit the wrong key.
Hi John,
you learnt about it much more cheaply than I did!
Robert
-- In harryproa@yahoogrou
<jhargrovewright2@
>
> Robert,
> I already learned something today.
> An interesting detail is that there are northern-hemisphere and
> southern-hemisphere compasses. This is due to the fact that the magnetic
> field lines to which a compass needle aligns point into the earth at the
> north and south magnetic poles. This means that in the northern
> hemisphere, the north end of the needle is pulled downwards and so the
> south end is counter-weighted to balance the needle. Therefore, when you
> use a northern hemisphere compass in, say Australia, the south end
of the
> magnet is pulled downwards by the magnetic field and is also heavier
than
> the north end - resulting in a needle that catches and drags on the
> bottom of the compass housing when the compass is held horizontal.
> johninbastrop
> ____________
> Click here for financial aid options. Quick and Easy.
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