Science Smarts: Build your own compass before going out exploring this weekend

By PATTY ROOKS on May 22, 2021.

The first long weekend of summer has finally arrived! I’m writing this before the weekend, so I’m not sure what the weather holds. If you’ve lived in southern Alberta for any length of time, you’ll know this weekend can be anything from beautiful warm sunny days to cold wintery weather; nothing is off limits! If you are going away for the weekend, make sure you are prepared! One essential item we should all have in our backpack if we are heading out to do some exploring is a compass. In case you cannot get to the store to purchase one, here are the instructions to make your own. Let’s get started!

Remember to ask an adult before doing this activity.

Materials

• Drinking glass

• Water

• Sewing needle

• Scissors

• Piece of thin cardboard

• Magnet

Procedure

• Carefully holding the needle in one hand, rub it towards the north end of the magnet. Only go in ONE direction, lifting up when you get to the end of the magnet.

• Repeat this 50 times.

• Using the pencil, draw an arrow on the piece of cardboard and cut it out with the scissors. Ensure that the arrow is not bigger than the mouth of the drinking glass.

• Have an adult help you push the needle down through the cardboard then push it up back out and back down – it will look like it is threaded in the cardboard.

• Fill the drinking glass ¾ full of water and place on a sturdy surface.

• Carefully place the arrow/needle on the surface of the water. Allow it to float there for a minute.

• Observe.

• The arrow should be pointing north!

• Now that you know where north is, where is south?

• Where are the directions east and west?

What is going on?

By rubbing the needle on the magnet so many times, you actually made it a weak magnet. If you know anything about magnets, they should point to the magnetic North Pole. We used a glass of water to float the needle in because this reduces the friction it would experience. The needle is able to float freely and effortlessly on top of the water finding the direction it needed!

Next time you are filling up your survival pack for a day of adventure, do not forget a needle and magnet. Then, no matter where you are, you can always make a compass and find your way home!

Patty Rooks, Senior Scientific Consultant PRAXIS, “Connecting Science To The Community”. Contact Praxis at praxis@praxismh.ca.

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