Some Confusion - Magnetic Compass

The south pole of the compass is marked .

No confusion conspiracy was intended.

No, it is regarded as the south pole of a magnet, but it points north, being attracted toward the opposite pole.

Interesting question. I never really thought about it.

From the source I found today, the convention seems to be that the end of a magnet that is attracted to the magnetic pole of the earth in the northern hemisphere (often called the north pole, or north magnetic pole) is called the north end of the magnet. What we call the north magnetic pole (of the earth) is actually a south pole.

Some references:

• THE NORTH MAGNETIC POLE OF THE EARTH IS IN THE NORTH?
• MESSAGES COLLECTED FROM PHYS-L AND TAP-L (physics teacher) LIST SERVERS

Note that both of these are from the same site.

From Wikipedia:

A magnet or compass needle's "north" pole is defined as the one which is attracted to the North magnetic pole of the Earth, in northern Canada. Since opposite poles attract ("north" to "south") the North magnetic pole of the Earth is actually the south pole of the Earth's magnetic field.^[4][5][6]

When I was a Boy Scout (a long time ago) the compass had a North-seeking pole. I think Wikipedia is off base, not to mention that it contradicts itself in that paragraph.

San Jose State's Physics 51 course (just to pick one example) says that the earth's north geographic pole is the earth's south magnetic pole. (See the picture.)

Please explain (point out) the contradictions.

I was a Cub Scout, and was taught how to use a compass ("N" points north). No-one tried to explain the apparent "N-S" paradox until I was in 3^rd year secondary school (that's age 15~16) in Scotland.

I now (aged 59) still have a fairly good grasp of it.

Re: Please explain (point out) the contradictions.

I'm guessing he is referring to this sentence ...

Since opposite poles attract ("north" to "south") the North magnetic pole of the Earth is actually the south pole of the Earth's magnetic field.[4][5][6]

Which could be corrected by changing it to read:

Since opposite poles attract ("north" to "south") the North geographic pole of the Earth is actually the south pole of the Earth's magnetic field.[4][5][6]

The north geographic pole is the point where the Earth's axis of rotation meets the bit of Earth's surface which is, by convention, known as north. It doesn't change much, and doesn't attract compass needles.

The north magnetic pole is nearby, and (as you know) varies in position.

Good guess, but I don't think it's the answer. Maybe something else in there is wrong .

HI,

"...North magnetic pole of the Earth, in northern Canada."

contradicts the last sentence saying the south pole is in Canada.

I don't think it's a condradiction. What is called, by convention, the north magnetic pole is indeed at the "top" end of the globe (i.e. the same end as the north geographic pole). Also, by the convention of naming magnetic poles, it is the south pole of the Earth's magnetic field (since it will attract the end of a bar magnet labeled "N").

Don't over-analyze.

My GPS does not care! But it's all in the purpose at hand isn't it? You can call the Earth's poles Banana and Apple but the effect of magnetism will still be the same.

I suspect that the term "north" for a direction preceded the invention of the compass.

Now you know why ships got lost in the Bermuda triangle. They were all rowing in the wrong direction.