Compass Points North
The most popular argument for the compass is that the Chinese claim to have invented it more than 2,500 years BC.
It is also believed that it was widely used in the Asian continent in the third century of the Christian era. Then comes the theory that Marco Polo started using it in Europe.
The modern compass was developed in the late 1930s.
Some historians recently point out that the first version of the modern compass was practically invented by a gunsmith from the far lands of Positano, Italy.
The first steps, one needle on a small iron similar to the one currently used. He then locked her in a wooden box.
The magnetism anomaly has been known for a long time. To work requires a fine element of magnetized iron on one of its poles so that it points towards the north of the earth.
In the twelfth century there were already some primitive ones.
The Arabs themselves felt fascinated by this invention, which they immediately incorporated into their long journeys throughout the world. Middle East.
We can make the compass as dizzy as we want, lock it in a box or put it in a pocket. It will always point to the North and will help us to follow the course without making mistakes.
Of course: the magnetic needle will fulfill its mission as long as we do not place it next to a magnet.
This is so because this instrument, so necessary to venture into territories, is capable of guide us thanks to the fact that the Earth is a great magnet.
The performance.
The operation of this hermetic glazed box is based on a phenomenon called magnetism.
The compass needle is a small magnet. Attracted by another much bigger one, which is none other than our own planet.
If the magnetic needle always points to the North it is because the Earth has a magnetism of the opposite sign at that pole.
Like any magnet, the compass has two poles: attraction and repulsion.
If two poles have different signs they attract each other, if they have the same signs they repel each other. So it is enough to relate the poles of the compass with it to orient ourselves.
To orient yourself with a compass, it is enough to match the North of the outer spheremobile, of the compass with the direction indicated by the magnetic point of the needle.
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