Question

Draw the diagram of a magnetic compass.

Answer 1

Hint: You can start by defining how and why the earth has a magnetic field. Then move on to describing what a compass is and its function. Then describe the scale of the compass and newer applications of the compass system.

Complete step by step answer:
Earth, the planet we live on, has its own magnetic field. It’s called the geomagnetic field. The earth has this geomagnetic field due to the presence of the molten nickel and iron in the core of earth. This mixture of iron and nickel in its molten state has free electrons and we know that any charged particle that is subjected to acceleration produces a magnetic field.
A compass is a piece of equipment that uses the interaction of two magnetic materials and is used for navigation. Compass uses the magnetic south and north poles of the earth as reference positions. All other locations are given coordinates using north and south poles as a reference.
The scale of the compass is divided into $360$ parts representing the $360^\circ $ . The north, north-east, east, south-east, south, south west, west and north-west are more boldly marked.
The compass has a pointer needle attached in the middle. The compass needle moves according to the magnetic field of the area. Now we have advanced compasses that are more accurate and digital in nature, we even have compasses in smartphones.
The diagram of the compass is

Note:
The south and the north geographic poles are located very close to the magnetic poles. The magnetic poles shift continuously and change significantly over large time scales. But this does not affect the work of the compass in a significant way. In fact, after every hundred thousand years the poles are reversed and scientists have discovered this happening before.