north pole

[periwinkle]

if you were standing directly on top of the current position of thenorth pole what would your compass be doing?
ty

[periwinkle]

errr? i dont get it. is this something to do do with the year i spent asleep in physics

[Clanad]

I think what Zacmaster is trying to tell you is that magnetic compasses don't point to the geographic North Pole, but to Magnetic North, which is located in the Canadian Shield in far northen Canada... it moves almost constantly by the process called secular variation... (You probably missed that one too)...
Here's a better picture than I can paint with words only:
http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/geomag/nmp/northpole_e. php

[dundurn]

Alternatively - the question mentions the current position of the North Pole.Since the geographical North Pole doesn't move but the magnetic one does, it may mean the magnetic North Pole. In which case the compass needle would be trying very hard to point at your feet.

[periwinkle]

so would it be spinning?

[dundurn]

No. Over most of the earth the lines of magnetic force are travelling parallel to the surface of the earth, but as you approach the magnitic poles they turn and eventually become vertical. If you are standing at the North magnetic pole holding a compass as you normally do, horizontal, then the needle will try to rotate to point downwards. Some combination of the case or the spindle or both will stop it doing this. If you were to stand the compass on its edge, then the needle would point straight down. This effect is seen to a degree all over the earth, it's called the angle of dip; approx 0 degrees at the equator and 90 degrees at the magnetic poles.

[nix-j-c]

it wuold point to magnetic north stil which is where it always points