A compass needle which is allowed to move in a horizontal plane is taken to a geomagnetic pole. It
- will become rigid showing no movement
- will stay in any position
- will stay in north-south direction only
- will stay in east-west direction only
Answer
(2) will stay in any position
Solution
At a geomagnetic pole, the earth's magnetic field is vertical (angle of dip = 90 ).
Horizontal component BH = B 90 = 0
A compass needle moving in a horizontal plane is turned only by BH; with BH = 0 there is no aligning torque.
The needle will stay in any position.
Answer: (2)