manual

10
South Pole
North Pole
S
lines of force
North Pole
South Pole
The two-color ring is acting like the needle of a compass.
The magnetic ring uses the yellow part
(where N is stamped) to point itself toward
Earth’s magnetic North Pole. Check with a
compass to find which way is north.
Caution: Don’t get the compass
too near the magnetic ring or it
will cause the compass to point to
the magnetic ring, rather than the
North Pole. The magnet may also
eventually demagnetize the compass
if held too close.
Earth’s Magnetic Field
Special Effect #1 showed how the
planet Earth behaves like a great
big magnet, as English doctor
William Gilbert (1544-1603) first
stated. The compass needle lines
up with the lines of force of
Earth’s magnetic field.
The causes of Earth’s magnetism
are still unknown; it is thought
that there are electric currents
inside the planet that have
created a magnetic field.