How does a magnetic compass work? Well, it’s all down to basic physics and human ingenuity. The key component of a standard baseplate compass is its magnetized needle, which is allowed to spin freely ...

Some inventions are so simple that it’s hard to improve them. The magnetic compass is a great example — a magnetized needle, a bit of cork, and a bowl of water are all you need to start navigating the ...

Learn how to find the current needed to deflect a compass needle in this step-by-step physics tutorial! Explore the principles of magnetic fields, current-carrying wires, and the interaction with a ...

Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field generated by electric currents from within the planet. Compasses take advantage of this field to identify north and serve as a navigational aid. But one social ...

Are you ready to find a new direction? This experiment uses household items to make a useful tool. Follow along with ABC11 Science Club with BASF and discover how to make a compass at home! Adult ...

Some bacterial species possess an astonishing ability: They use Earth's magnetic field to orient themselves. To better ...

THE subject of this lecture is the gyrostatic compass, often called the gyro-compass. An engineer of my acquaintance was asked if he under-stood what a gyro-compass was, and he replied, “Of course I ...

Every year, great white sharks travel over 12,000 miles from South Africa to Australia, charting a nearly perfect straight line across the ocean. And every year, they turn around and travel back.