1. Tardigrade
  2. Question
  3. Physics
  4. Assertion: If a compass needle be kept at magnetic north pole of the earth, the compass needle may stay in any direction. Reason: Dip needle will stay vertical at the north pole of earth

Question Error Report

Thank you for reporting, we will resolve it shortly

Back to Question

Q. Assertion : If a compass needle be kept at magnetic north pole of the earth, the compass needle may stay in any direction.
Reason : Dip needle will stay vertical at the north pole of earth

Magnetism and Matter

Solution:

The earth has only vertical component of its magnetic field at the magnetic poles. Since compass needle is only free to rotate in horizontal plane where H = 0, hence the compass needle may stay in any direction. The dip needle rotates in a vertical plane and angle of dip at poles is $90^{\circ}$. So it will stand vertical.