Explain About Magnetic Compass

Top Explain About Magnetic Compass, The magnetic compass is the most familiar compass type.

Explain about magnetic compass. I failed to mention in the video that declination changes over time. It functions as a pointer to magnetic north the local magnetic meridian because the magnetized needle at its heart aligns itself with the horizontal component of the earths magnetic fieldthe magnetic field exerts a torque on the needle pulling the north end or pole of the needle approximately toward the earths north magnetic pole. I address this in my book stay. A compass is an instrument containing a freely suspended magnetic element which displays the direction of the horizontal component of the earths magnetic field at the point of observation.

The second is magnetic deviationthe angular difference between magnetic north and the. Magnets in a compass make it align with the magnetic north pole. Photo by staff sgt. Modern ships are made of numerous plates of steel.

Compasses are used to determine the direction of true northhowever the compass reading must be corrected for two effects. In airplanes your compass is almost always set on top of the dash or hung from the top of the windshield frame in order to keep it as far away from electrical gear as possible to reduce magnetic deviation more on this later. The simplest compass is a magnetized metal needle mounted in such a way that it can spin freely. This video explains magnetic declination and how it relates to the use of a map and compass.

They are cut bent into shapes and welded in place. Bailey courtesy of us air force. The first is magnetic declination or variationthe angular difference between magnetic north the local direction of the earths magnetic field and true north. A magnetic compass points north because it aligns itself with the magnetic field produced inside earth.