Wherever you are on Earth, the magnetized needle of a compass will always point in the same direction. This occurs because of Earth's magnetism. Earth behaves like a gigantic magnet. Like a magnet, it is surrounded by a magnetic field.

Why does a compass needle point up?

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.

What direction do magnetic needles point?

A compass needle points north because the north pole of the magnet inside it is attracted to the south pole of Earth's built-in magnet.