The magnetic compass was developed in ancient times to aid navigation. It helped travelers determine directions reliably, especially at sea, by aligning with Earth’s magnetic field, making it easier to find their way.
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A freely suspended magnet aligns itself along the Earth’s north-south direction due to Earth’s magnetic field. This property helps determine directions, as the north end of the magnet points towards the geographic north.
Yes, it’s amazing! Magnets can move objects without direct contact because of their magnetic fields. These fields exert forces on magnetic materials, allowing the magnet to attract or repel objects through the air.
Yes, you can use a magnet to pick up a steel paper clip from water without wetting your fingers or the magnet. By holding the magnet outside the water, it will attract the paper clip through the water’s surface.
Magnets are used in everyday items like refrigerator doors, compasses, and electronic devices such as speakers and hard drives.