Construct a Compass

Materials:

• Paint
• Styrofoam Pad
• Needle
• Bar Magnet
• Modeling Clay
• Pitcher of water
• Tape
• Plastic Container

1. Paint the styrofoam pad.

2. Place the modeling clay in the bottom of the plastic container.

3. Stick the toothpick into the clay.

4. Stroke one end of the magnet along the needle, about 30 times, in the same direction.

5. Tape the needle on the styrofoam.

6. Place the styrofoam on top of the toothpick (do not push the toothpick into styrofoam).

7. Pour the water into the container until the styrofoam is floating.

8. Once the styrofoam is floating, it will begin to spin. The needle will be pointing North to South.

Explanation:
The needle is just a needle until it is stroked with the magnet. Once the needle is stroked with the magnet in the same direction, it turns into a magnet. When the needle is magnetized, one end gains a north pole. The north pole of the Earth’s magnetic field attracts the north pole of the needle. Once the water lifts the piece of Styrofoam off the toothpick, the needles magnetic attraction spins the Styrofoam to the north position.

Tennessee State Standards:

 GLE 0407.12.1 Explore the interactions between magnets.

 GLE 0407.12.2 Observe that electrically charged objects exert a pull on other materials.