Magnet & Compass: Magnetic Field Lines Community
Questions, answers and tips from people who use the Magnet & Compass: Magnetic Field Lines. Drag a bar magnet and a compass to see the magnetic field direction, strength and field lines..
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This page shows only real posts from real people, so it starts empty. The guide below has the questions people most often have about the Magnet & Compass: Magnetic Field Lines. Pick one to start a thread, or write your own.
From the tool guide: common questions about Magnet & Compass: Magnetic Field Lines
The items below are not posts by community members. They come from the written guide for this tool and are here to get a conversation started. Use “Ask a follow-up” to open a thread about any of them.
What do magnetic field lines show?
The direction a compass points and, by how close together they are, how strong the field is.
From the tool guide Ask a follow-upWhy does a compass point north?
The Earth acts like a giant magnet, and the compass needle lines up with its field.
From the tool guide Ask a follow-upKey ideas
- Field lines leave the north pole and enter the south pole.
- A compass needle lines up with the field.
- The field is strongest close to the poles.
- Flipping the magnet reverses the field.
Things to try
- Drag the compass all the way around the magnet.
- Flip the magnet and watch the needle turn.
- Reduce the strength.
Where this is used
Navigation, MRI scanners, electric motors and hard drives all depend on magnetic fields.
How to ask a question people can answer
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- Mention your setup. Your device, browser and whether you are on a phone or a computer can explain many odd results.
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