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Compass evidence for Earth's magnetic field
Figure 7 shows a magnetic compass used by walkers.
Figure 7 shows a magnetic compass used by walkers.
Explain how a magnetic compass provides evidence that the Earth has a magnetic field.
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Marking points
- 1 State that the compass needle always points in the same direction, or points north.
- 2 Explain that this happens because the compass needle aligns with the Earth's magnetic field.
Full-mark answer
A compass needle always points in the same direction, towards north, because it aligns itself with the Earth's magnetic field.
Why this answer loses marks
The Earth has gravity so the compass points down.
A compass responds to magnetic fields, not to gravity in this context.