Q&A for How to Make a Compass

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Question

What if I do not have any of the supplies?

Community Answer

Remember that the sun rises in the east and goes down in the west. So if the sun is going down on your left, north is ahead of you and south is behind you. If it's coming up on your left, north is behind you and south is ahead of you.

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Question

How is the leaf used, and how is the needle passed through the leaf?

Community Answer

Set the needle on top of a floating leaf. The needle will turn the leaf with it.

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Question

How can I make this compass if it is night and I can't find the Little Dipper?

Community Answer

Wait for morning. Night navigation in a survival situation is inadvisable. Focus on fire and shelter instead. The magnetic field will still be there in the morning, but it won't matter if you're not.

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Question

Is there another way to make a compass?

Community Answer

Yes, you could try the string and stick 'Chinese' method, which allows you to skip using water or oil. The thread 'floats' the hanging needle. Positions can still be marked if the stick or pencil is set over a cup or ring.

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Question

Can you use a bottle cap instead of a cork?

Community Answer

Yes. You can use anything you want that floats, as long as it can hold the needle without it falling into the water.

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Question

What should I do if I need to take it somewhere as a project for school?

Community Answer

Keep the compass and a magnet inside of the bowl, and carefully take it to school. Refill the bowl with water in a sink.

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Question

How does it point in that direction?

ENOJIKengura

Community Answer

The earth has a north and south pole with an electromagnetic force emanating from them. This force is so great that it causes any compass to turn towards the origin of those forces.

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Question

Do I need a magnetizer?

Community Answer

Yes, it is vital to use a magnetizer.

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Question

Why would I use metal instead of anything else?

ENOJIKengura

Community Answer

Metal is a conductor of electricity, which is similar to magnetic fields and poles. If you use something else like plastic, it will not turn in the right direction towards the poles since it is not magnetic.

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Question

What if a needle is not magnetized?

Community Answer

Then it won't point north.

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Question

Say I want to make a professional looking compass, like one that I could find in a store. Could this method still work, but instead of using a bowl I would be using a casing for the compass?

Community Answer

The basic method is the same, yes.

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Question

What if the cork does not stay still?

Community Answer

Try using different materials, or maybe making the cork thicker or thinner.

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Question

How do I know which way is north and south?

Community Answer

The floating needle turns towards north, and you can work south, east and west from there.

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Question

Are there any substitutes for cork?

Alex

Top Answerer

Yes. You can use anything that can float and be easily moved, such as a piece of foam.

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