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Why does a compass needle point north?
The Earth's solid iron core is spinning at a different speed from the rest of the Earth. It can do this because the outer core is liquid. The movement sets up magnetic fields in the Earth that make it act like a giant magnet. It has north and south magnetic poles, which attract a compass needle.
A compass needle lines up with the magnetic field, so it always points north. A dip needle can swing up or down.
A compass needle lines up with the magnetic field, so it always points north. A dip needle can swing up or down.
 
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