Science Common Sense

232 - How does a compass work?

A compass is a tool that helps you find directions. It works like this:

There's a tiny magnet inside the compass. The Earth is also like a huge magnet. When you hold the compass near the Earth's surface, the magnet inside the compass is attracted to the North and South Poles of the Earth.

Since opposite poles attract each other, the magnet inside the compass moves to point towards the Earth's North Pole. This is why the needle on the compass points towards the North, helping you find directions.