Why are compasses attracted to the magnetic north pole and not to other magnets (like refrigerator magnets)?

Question

And if the magnetic north pole is so strong, why aren't all metal objects attracted to it? (Imagine all refrigerators, car parts, every metal thing in the world being magnetically sucked to one of the poles, ha! So why doesn't this happen?)

Answer 1

Take a small refrigerator magnet, put it in the lid of a milk jug, and float it in a pan of water (not a steel pan, the magnet would be attracted to that). It will turn just like a compass magnet.

The magnetic field is too weak to suck everything to the poles, but it is just strong enough to get a magnet to align with it if there is almost nothing at all holding the magnet from turning. That's why you have to float it on the water.

Answer 2

If you were to place a refrigerator magnet right on the side of a compass, like you place it on a refrigerator, the needle of the compass would be drawn to the magnet.

Now put the refrigertor magnet on the frig. Notice that it sticks.  Hold the magent 10 feet awa, and what happens?  It does not stick nor does it fly to the frig.  That is because the "field" of the magnet (the area that its magnet waves cover) is not very big.  You get outside the field, and it has not affect.

The earth's magnetic field, while not strong enough to make metal objects fly through the air, is large enough to cover the entire earth.  So it can affect things like compasses, which are not only metal, but also a magnet - which increases the affect of magnetic fields on it.

Actually, all the object you listed are sucked towards the maginetic pole.  It is just that another force (called gravity) is more powerful and prevents them from flying north. Instead it drawns them towards the center of the earth.

Answer 3

They are, to both questions. Compasses are attracted (and therefore, throw off) by all magnets. And all magnetized objects are pulled by the Earth's magnetic field. But the Earth's magnetic field is very weak, not "so strong".

Answer 4

if you are confused about what everyone is saying about magnetic fields (they are all mostly right)then try this:

get hold of some iron filings and a bar magnet (long oblong ones that are normally blue at one end and red at the other.)

evenly rap the magnet in a thin sheet of cling film and put it on a piece of newspaper on a table. then place a sheet of normal writing paper over the magnet and pour the iron filings over the paper. if u have done every thing right then u should see the "magnetic field" of the magnet

then to clear up the filings take the magnet out from underneath the paper. it dosen't  matter if u get filings over the magnet cos thats what the cling film is 4 cos its hard to get them off otherwise. then fold up the newspaper and writing paper so that any filings are trapped in the paper. if u do spill any use the magnet to pick them up then last of all over the bin or a pot if u want to keep the filings take off the cling film from the magnet leaving you with a nice clean magnet.

hope this helped u to understand better

Answer 5

Fridge magnets have small magnetic fields so a compass has to get quite close to them to show a reaction. We are continuously bathed in the Earth's field as is the compass. The Earth's field is quite weak which is why compasses are made with a pointer balanced on the point of a pin to make then extremely sensitive.