Compass north-south positioning

The main component of the compass is the magnetic needle installed on the shaft. Under the action of natural geomagnetic field, the magnetic needle can rotate freely and keep in the tangential direction of magnetic meridian. When the magnetic needle rotates freely, it will indicate the north and south because of the property that magnets repel and attract. That is, the south pole of the magnetic needle points to the geographical south pole and the north pole of the magnetic needle points to the geographical north pole.

Compass north-south positioning

Compasses are often used in navigation, geodesy, travel and military affairs. The invention of the compass with physical direction indication has three parts, namely Sina, compass and magnetic needle, all of which belong to the invention of China.

Compass is the result of China ancient working people's understanding of magnet magnetism in long-term practice. In ancient China, the compass was first used for rituals, etiquette, military affairs and divination, and to determine the orientation when looking at geomantic omen.