A compass needle is a permanent magnet which is suspended so it is free to rotate and align itself with other magnetic fields. ... The compass needle is marked so that you can tell which end of the needle is pointing toward the North pole of the planet. This will allow you to find out which direction is where.

What is a compass needle in physics?

The compass needle points in the direction of the Earth's magnetic field, or the magnetic field of a magnet. Magnetic fields can be mapped out using small plotting compasses : place the plotting compass near the magnet on a piece of paper. mark the direction the compass needle points.

Is a compass needle north or south?

A compass points north because all magnets have two poles , a north pole and a south pole, and the north pole of one magnet is attracted to the south pole of another magnet.