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If a traveller using a compass needle follows the direction of the magnetic needle, would he/she be able to reach the geographic north pole? Explain in detail.


Ashutosh Suman 21st Apr, 2021
Answer (1)
Souhrid Sarkar 22nd Apr, 2021
Hello,

The Geographic North Pole is where lines of longitudes converge into what we call the North Pole. The Magnetic Pole is a point in Northern Canada where the northern lines of attraction enter the Earth. A compass needle will point to the direction of the Magnetic North Pole.But it is found that the north pole of the compass needle does not exactly point towards the geographic north pole of the earth. This is due to the fact that the line joining the magnetic poles is not aligned with the geographic axis. It is a little bit tilted with respect to the geographic axis. Thus the magnetic poles of the earth do not coincide with the geographic poles.

Note : The north pole of the earth's magnetic field does not actually behave like the north pole of a bar magnet. We know that the magnetic field lines go into the north pole of a bar magnet. But the magnetic field lines actually come out of the magnetic north pole of earth. This is due to the convention which is accepted on the basis of the deflection of the north pole of a compass needle.

Thus the magnetic poles of the earth do not coincide with the geographic poles.

Hope it helps
Thank you !!!

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