Praxis: Find your way home

By Patty Rooks on July 13, 2019.

praxis@praxismh.ca@PraxisMedHat

I don’t know about you, but a favourite activity of mine in the summer is camping! I don’t necessarily “glamp” but prefer to go to the backcountry and camp. My last outing was a bit nerve-wracking for some members in our group. Unfortunately, they decided to go hiking without any hiking gear. I quickly became quite concerned for them as I happened to glance way out across the mountains and observed them high up on a mountain, and it appeared they didn’t know the way back. Of course, this made me start thinking what to do if you are lost and do not have your hiking gear with you. Well, this week, we will learn how to make a simple compass that is sure to guide you back home (with a little practice of course)!

*Remember to ask an adult before doing this experiment.

Materials

– clear shallow bowl

– water

– magnet

– needle

– compass (optional)

– permanent marker

– scissors

– parchment paper

Procedure

1. Fill the bowl about three quarters full of water and set aside.

2. Cut a small circle out of the parchment paper. Set aside for now.

3. Take the needle and mark one end of it with the permanent marker.

4. Using the north end of the magnet, run the magnet over the needle in one direction 50 times.

5. Flip the needle over and now using the south end of the magnet repeat.

6. Thread the magnetized needle over through the parchment paper.

7. Carefully float the needle/parchment paper on the surface of the water in the bowl.

8. Observe.

9. What happens?

What is going on?

When you observed the needle in the bowl, it should have pointed north. If you are not sure, use the compass and verify this.

In this experiment, you made a simple compass. By rubbing the needle with the magnet, you left some magnetic material on the needle essentially magnetizing it. Magnets interact with one another, and as a result, this magnet can interact with the Earth’s magnetic field.

When you go out hiking, be sure not to forget your compass as if there is one tool that is sure to give you guidance if you get lost and that is a compass!

Patty Rooks, Senior Scientific Consultant PRAXIS, “Connecting Science To The Community”. Contact Praxis at praxis@praxismh.ca, http://www.praxismh.ca, Tweet or follow us @PraxisMedHat, or friend us on Facebook. NOTE our NEW address: #12 826 11 Street S. E., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 1T7 Phone: 403-527-5365, email: praxis@praxismh.ca.

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