Magnetic Fields and Navigation
Answer Key | Magnetic Fields and Navigation
We encourage you to experiment or do research to find the answers to these questions on your own before looking at our answers!
Discussion
Certain metals are magnetic such as: iron, nickel, cobalt, and steel.
Humans use magnetism for many things. Examples: holding things in place, electronics, navigation, etc.
Some animals have a special sense called magnetoreception that lets them sense magnetic fields.
A compass is a tool that humans created to navigate the world. You will learn more about how they work in this lesson.
Make Your Own Compass
Answers will vary. Examples:
- The needle
- The arrow
- The directions: North (N), South (S), East (E), West (W), Northeast (NE), Northwest (NW), Southeast (SE), Southwest (SW)
- The glass/plastic cover
It spins and moves back and forth and eventually stops moving. If you move while you’re holding the compass, the needle will move.
Answers will vary. If you guessed that the tip of the needle would point north, you were correct. If the tip did not point north, you might have rubbed the magnet from tip to base instead of base to tip.
North
South
Magnetism
Compass Rose
North, East, South, and West. There are also sometimes other directions like Northwest, West-Southwest, etc.
The cardinal points are the big main directions: North, South, East, and West. The ordinal points are in between those, like Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and Northwest. The secondary intercardinal points are even smaller steps between the ordinal points, like North-Northeast or South-Southwest.
Hidden Treasure Map
Answers may vary depending on your compass. Hold the compass parallel to the ground. Find the N on the compass. Rotate your body until the tip is pointing toward the N. That direction is North.
Answers may vary depending on your compass. Hold the compass parallel to the ground. Find the N on the compass. Rotate your body until the red tip is pointing toward the N. Pay attention to which direction the S is. That direction is South.
Answers will vary. One way is to make each step exactly the size of your foot.
Answers will vary.
Answers will vary. Example: if you and your buddy have very different step sizes, you might get to different places following the same directions.