magnetic compass
What magnetic compass means in Combined Science GCSE, as defined for AQA.
Definitions of magnetic compass
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Reference: AQA
Contains a small magnet that is free to rotate and always settles with its north-seeking pole pointing roughly towards the Earth's geographic north.
Contains a small bar magnet mounted so it can pivot freely, and its needle rotates until it lies along the local magnetic field.
Topics that use magnetic compass
- Magnetic fields (AQA GCSE)
Related terms
- Alignment of a freely suspended magnet
- Attraction and repulsion
- Earth's magnetic field
- Field line direction
- Field lines
- Field strength
- Field strength and distance
- Induced magnetism
Using magnetic compass in the exam
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