A compass is a tiny magnet that can spin around! It’s usually inside a round case with directions North, South, East, and West) marked on it. The compass needle always tries to point toward the Earth’s magnetic South Pole, so you can use it to find your way around.
If you put a magnet close to a compass, something really cool happens: the compass needle will move and point toward the magnet instead of pointing North!
Normally, it points to Earth’s magnetic South Pole. But when you bring another magnet close to it, the compass needle gets confused—it starts following the magnet you’re holding because it’s much closer and stronger than the Earth’s magnetic pull right there.
Try it out! Move the magnet around and watch how the compass needle always follows its South Pole.
You can use a compass to explore the invisible magnetic field around a bar magnet. Here’s how to do it:
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Place the bar magnet on a table: Lay it flat so you can easily move the compass around it. The magnet has a North Pole and a South Pole—look for labels like "N" or "S" on the magnet.
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Bring the compass close to the magnet: Start near one end of the magnet (like the North Pole). Watch the compass needle: it will point toward or away from the magnet depending on where you are.
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Move the compass around the magnet: Slowly move the compass along the sides and around to the other end of the magnet (the South Pole).
Watch how the needle turns as you move—it’s always pointing along the magnetic field lines, which curve around the magnet.
