Physical-Chemical

Sciences
The earth
magnetism

Magnetite Compass
 INDEX
What are magnets or magnets?
What is the terrestrial magnetism?
The compass and its use;
 What is magnetite or magnets?

There are materials with very different forms, which have the
property of attracting small amounts of iron or steel. This property is
called magnetism. The materials with magnetic properties are called
artificial magnets.
    In nature there are also magnets: are called natural magnets.

The magnetite is an iron mineral that has

magnetic properties and can be found in
nature.
 Any magnet changes the area of space that is around it, so when you
put an object of steel or iron near a magnet it’s attracted.

The attraction is stronger near the

ends of the magnet. It is said that the
magnet around it creates a magnetic
field, which is more intense at the
ends.

The ends of magnets are called poles. Every magnet has two poles: the
north pole and the south pole.
As you know:

- Different poles attract each other;

- Same poles repel each other.

 What is the terrestrial magnetism?

The Earth, due to the fact of having liquid iron in the formation of its
core, behaves as a giant magnet. The south magnetic pole is located
in the northern hemisphere and the north magnetic pole is located in
the southern hemisphere.

This behavior of the

Earth explains the fact
observed with a
magnetic needle placed
on its surface.

- What are magnetic needles?

They are artificial magnets small that can easily rotate around an axis.
When placed near a magnet, they orient themselves as follows :
- the north pole of the needle is attracted by the south pole of the
magnet and vice-versa.
As long as there is no magnets or iron
or steel objects nearby, on anywhere
on Earth the needle will guide itself
relatively the same way on earth
magnet.

- the north pole of the needle is

attracted by earth magnetic south pole,
indicating the geographic north.
- the south pole of the needle is
attracted by earth magnetic north pole,
indicating the geographic south.
The compass and its use

The compasses are useful tools for guidance and have as an essential
part a magnetic needle.

To use a compass we start by placing it, still

locked on a horizontal surface, away from
metals. Then it´s unlocked and it is
expected that the needle stops moving.
Then we rotate it carefully so that the north
it´s marked 8º (degrees) to the right end of
the needle.