Homemade Floating Compass

Create your own working compass using a magnetized needle and water. You will learn how magnets interact with the Earth's magnetic field to point toward the North Pole.

Tools

• sewing needle (1)
• marker (1)

Materials

• paper or plastic plate (1)
• bowl (1)
• water (enough to fill the bowl)
• small piece of cork (1)
• magnet (1)

Safety

• Adult supervision required for sharp objects.
• Protect work surface. Materials may stain clothing.

Steps

1. Using a marker, label the edges of your plate with North, South, East, and West.
2. Place the bowl on top of the plate and fill it with water.
3. Carefully push the sewing needle through the small piece of cork so that the cork can float and the needle stays balanced.
4. Magnetize the needle by rubbing it against the magnet approximately 50 times in one direction.
5. Gently place the cork with the needle into the water and let it float.
6. Wait a minute for the needle to stop spinning; it should eventually point toward the North.
7. To verify the direction, use a digital compass app on a smartphone to see if your needle is pointing to the true North.
8. Rotate your plate so that the 'North' label aligns with the direction the needle is pointing.
9. If the needle does not move or point North, remove it from the water and rub it on the magnet a few more times to increase the magnetization.