How does a compass work?

To understand compasses, you first need to understand magnets. When you put a magnet near metal, an invisible force pulls the metal to the magnet. This invisible force is called magnetism. In many ways, our Earth is like a big magnet. Lines of magnetic force run through the planet. And, just like a magnet, Earth has a north pole and a south pole.

The needle of a compass is magnetic. The invisible pull of Earth’s magnetic field causes the needle of a compass to point north. Once the compass helps you find north, you can navigate east, west, and south, too.