The end of the compass needle pointing towards the north is called the north-seeking or north pole, while the end pointing towards the south is called the south-seeking or south pole. These ends approximately align with the north and south directions, respectively.
What are the two ends of a compass needle, and what directions do they approximately point towards?
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A compass needle typically has two ends: a red or pointed end and a blunt or colored end. The red or pointed end of the needle is often considered the north-seeking end, while the blunt or colored end is the south-seeking end.
When a compass is used for navigation, the needle aligns itself with the Earth’s magnetic field. The north-seeking end of the needle points roughly towards the Earth’s magnetic north pole, and the south-seeking end points towards the magnetic south pole. It’s important to note that the magnetic north pole is not exactly aligned with the geographic north pole, so there might be a slight difference between magnetic north and true north depending on your location. This difference is known as magnetic declination and varies from one geographic location to another. Navigation tools often account for this declination to provide more accurate directions.