If you were to use a compass to make an accurate calculation as to exactly where you are, you would have to make adjustments to your readings in order to locate yourself on a map. This is because maps are drawn in relationship to the geographic north and south poles instead of the magnetic north and south poles.There is one more point that we need to mention. The magnetic field lines in any magnetic field flow from the north to south poles. The field is directed outward from the north pole, and inward at the south pole. That means if you took a compass that had a needle that was completely free to rotate in any direction (including up and down), and were standing on the magnetic north pole, the needle should point up in the air. If you were standing at the magnetic south pole, the needle should point down towards the earth. But it actually works the opposite! What we call the magnetic north pole (in the Canadian Arctic) is really the “south pole” if you think of the earth in terms of a magnet. A compass needle will point downward there. We stick to the names we know because of convention, and to be consistent with the geographical north and south poles.
If you think about it, the north pole of the magnet should have pointed towards the earth’s south magnetic pole, because opposites attract, correct? Did you wonder why it lined up with the north pole? If you did, then your mind was working in a very scientific way! And now we have the answer for you. It’s because what we call the north magnetic pole is really the “south pole” of the earth’s magnetic field.
