Magnetic north is defined as which of the following?

Magnetic north is defined as which of the following?

• A. The direction to the geographic North Pole.
• B. The direction a compass needle points (in the northern hemisphere).
• C. The direction of the true north line on a map.
• D. The direction of celestial north

Answer: (B)

Magnetic north is the direction indicated by a compass needle in the local area. A compass aligns with the Earth's magnetic field lines, so in the northern hemisphere the needle points toward the magnetic north pole, not toward the geographic North Pole. That magnetic north pole is not fixed; it drifts over time as the Earth's core dynamics change, which is why declination varies by location and time. The geographic North Pole direction would align with true north, which is a different reference, and celestial north points toward Polaris in the sky. So the compass shows the direction of magnetic north.

Magnetic north is the direction indicated by a compass needle in the local area. A compass aligns with the Earth's magnetic field lines, so in the northern hemisphere the needle points toward the magnetic north pole, not toward the geographic North Pole. That magnetic north pole is not fixed; it drifts over time as the Earth's core dynamics change, which is why declination varies by location and time. The geographic North Pole direction would align with true north, which is a different reference, and celestial north points toward Polaris in the sky. So the compass shows the direction of magnetic north.