Why is the compass needle not pointing exactly north?

Why the compass needle points to the North Pole

Basically, a compass always points north with the needle.

• In the event that you are hiking in large areas with lush flora and vegetation, you should always orientate yourself using a compass so that you do not lose your route and yourself get lost. Especially in bad weather and weather conditions with fog and severe storms, the compass can be a real aid to navigation.
• The compass contains a magnetized compass needle for orientation, which aligns itself with the magnetic field of the earth so that the needle points north. The earth's magnetic field itself comes about because an earth's magnetic field is created through earth-specific movements, which can be traced back to the earth's core.
• The outer core is a liquid metal that, when set in motion, develops magnetic currents that uniformly form the magnetic field - similar to a gigantic dynamo.
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• The reason why the compass with its compass needle does not show exactly north in certain regions can be due to the fact that magnetic rocks in the earth's crust also influence the needle.


Earth's magnetism - a physical explanation

Most know the effect of the earth's magnetism either only from films or ...

• A distinction must be made between the geographic and the magnetic north and south poles, which can sometimes cause confusion. The reason for this is the discovery of naturally magnetic magnetite, the developed needle end of which faces north. This approach does not take into account the fact that this magnetite compass needle does not indicate north, but south, because oppositely charged poles of the
  Magnets attract each other and do not repel each other. However, this represents the basis of the definition for the cardinal points, the geographic north has the magnetic south pole there.
• The compass needle therefore does not show exactly, but only approximately the true north direction, the deviation of the needle from the corresponding north-south direction is referred to as magnetic declination, also the concept of declination in this context is common.
• It is also relevant that the needle does not show the exact direction that the location and position earth in connection with the deviating magnetic field in terms of latitude and longitude changes. Sometimes the earth's internal and external fields are responsible for magnetic fluctuations, and serious ones can also be Tidal forces affect the magnetic compass needle, so the sun and moon can relate to the charged ionosphere Change magnetic forces.

The north is not specified exactly - relevant

Since the needle in the compass is often subject to external influences and inaccuracies and navigation errors If there are deviations as a result, a navigation aid that was more precise had to be found for ship and air traffic is working. Because misalignments in this area can lead to waste of fuel, and the risk of accidents is increased if the compass alone is used for orientation.

• Since the attached magnetized needle does not exactly indicate true north, especially the closer you are Approaching the magnetic pole, another solution to this problem must be found in order to make the navigation precise align.
• The gyrocompass is the logical alternative to magnetic orientation aid, because this one does not work on the basis of the magnetic field, so it is not influenced by disturbances during the Orientation.
• This solution, which is based on gyroscopes instead of a needle, uses the knowledge that the top is constantly trying to maintain its position in space. In order to eliminate inaccuracies, the gyroscopes rotate a few thousand times per minute in a vacuum. When a ship or airplane moves, the tops all turn with them, keep it however, the location in space also contributes to the fact that no geomagnetic effects of this gyroscope can influence. The force of the gyroscopes acting against the movement is conveyed to the captain of a ship or the pilot of an aircraft via the instruments so that he knows exactly where he is.

This means that the compass needle is basically a good instrument that also shows north; however, a multitude of influences can ensure that the direction is not precise.