Question icon
Grade 12th PassMagnetism

A magnetic needle is placed on a cork floating in a still lake in the northern hemisphere. Does the needle together with the cork move towards the north of the lake? If yes (or no), then why?

Profile image of Sridev Venkataraman
7 Years agoGrade 12th Pass
Answers icon

2 Answers

Profile image of Arun
7 Years ago
Yes, it will because earth is like one giant magnet and the magnetic compass points to the magnetic North Pole.
Profile image of Khimraj
7 Years ago
Key Idea: Magnetic needle behaves as a dipole. Magnetic needle is a dipole which is in earth's uniform magnetic field and as a dipole in a uniform field does not experience any net force but may experience a couple as shown  in figure, so the needle together with the cork will not translate ie, move towards the north of the lake, but will rotate and set itself parallel to the field with its north pole pointing north.