How do you figure out which side of the magnet is facing North?

Great question! I think you'll be able to figure it out if you watch this video http://www.khanacademy.org/science/projects/discoveries/magnetism/v/floating-magnet--poles. Brit illustrates how the magnet is labeled! It's a good video as well. I'd answer the question, but I think you'd appreciate being able to see Brit explain how you can do an experiment to see why! Awesome question though.

Well, if the needle points north, then it is the north pole of the magnet(because the geographical north of the earth is the magnetic south). Does that mean the direction we stroke towards becomes the same pole as the pole of the magnet it is stroked with?

The direction the needle is stroked is the direction it will point. but if you stroke it with the south side the needle will point north because opposite forces attract. Does this help?

I have been hearing that the direction in which you stroke matters. Is this true?

Great question. Try out this exercise: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/discoveries-projects/discoveries/magnetism/e/compass-challenge

Main content

Course: Physics library > Unit 18

Lesson 1: Discovery of magnetism

Compass build (stroke direction)

Name: Compass build (stroke direction)
Uploaded: 2013-04-26T15:39:03Z
Description: Does the direction which we stroke the needle determine the final orientation?

Google Classroom

Does the direction which we stroke the needle determine the final orientation? Created by Brit Cruise.

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yingyangbu
Posted 11 years ago. Direct link to yingyangbu's post “How do you figure out whi...”
How do you figure out which side of the magnet is facing North?
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(17 votes)
Answer
- ben m
  Posted 11 years ago. Direct link to ben m's post “Great question! I think ...”
  Great question! I think you'll be able to figure it out if you watch this video http://www.khanacademy.org/science/projects/discoveries/magnetism/v/floating-magnet--poles. Brit illustrates how the magnet is labeled! It's a good video as well. I'd answer the question, but I think you'd appreciate being able to see Brit explain how you can do an experiment to see why! Awesome question though.
  Comment on ben m's post “Great question! I think ...”
  (3 votes)
eightsquare
Posted 11 years ago. Direct link to eightsquare's post “Well, if the needle point...”
Well, if the needle points north, then it is the north pole of the magnet(because the geographical north of the earth is the magnetic south). Does that mean the direction we stroke towards becomes the same pole as the pole of the magnet it is stroked with?
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(2 votes)
Answer
- jaydenodom
  Posted 11 years ago. Direct link to jaydenodom's post “The direction the needle ...”
  The direction the needle is stroked is the direction it will point. but if you stroke it with the south side the needle will point north because opposite forces attract. Does this help?
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  (4 votes)
Vyshnavi
Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Vyshnavi's post “How do you find out which...”
How do you find out which side of the magnet is facing North?
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(3 votes)
Answer
Alex Sierputowski
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Alex Sierputowski's post “What if you stroke half t...”
What if you stroke half the needle to face north and the other half to face south? would it keep spinning or lock into place?
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(2 votes)
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Eric
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Eric's post “I have been hearing that ...”
I have been hearing that the direction in which you stroke matters. Is this true?
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(1 vote)
Answer
- brit cruise
  Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to brit cruise's post “Great question. Try out t...”
  Great question. Try out this exercise:
  https://www.khanacademy.org/science/discoveries-projects/discoveries/magnetism/e/compass-challenge
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  (4 votes)
Victoria
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Victoria's post “At 0:29 what is being stu...”
At
0:29
what is being stuck onto the needle?
At
0:19
what is being rubbed on the needle? A magnet?
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(2 votes)
Answer
yaritzasanchez
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to yaritzasanchez's post “why do magnets like south...”
why do magnets like south and north stick together?
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(2 votes)
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babin26533
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to babin26533's post “ok so let me get this str...”
ok so let me get this straight, the direction of the stroke affects the needle direction.
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(1 vote)
Answer
- trek
  Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to trek's post “No, the strokes are align...”
  No, the strokes are aligning the iron molecules.
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  (1 vote)
Charles
Posted 11 years ago. Direct link to Charles's post “Why does the needle alway...”
Why does the needle always face north?
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(1 vote)
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Kylie
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Kylie's post “Does the way you stroke t...”
Does the way you stroke the needle detertermine the pole it goes to?
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(1 vote)
Answer

Video transcript

(rubbing) (rubbing)