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This Little Eureka will be very useful if you get lost! Want to know how to turn a needle into a compass? Read on... |
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First, take a needle and magnetise it by running a magnet over the top of it several times in the same direction. |
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Then take a clean, detergent-free bowl, and fill it with clean water. |
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Now float a piece of tissue paper on the surface of the water. |
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Carefully lie the needle on top of the paper. |
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Take a straw and use it to sink the tissue paper. Do this by pushing down one corner with the straw. The needle should still float. |
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Now sweep the piece of tissue paper out of the bowl. Your friends will be amazed at how you managed to get the needle to float because without the tissue paper, it's practically impossible! |
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Not only is the needle float, it also points north. Test it by placing a straw across the bowl in the direction the needle is pointing. |
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Move the needle about with the magnet. Providing that there are no other magnets in the area, it will return to pointing towards magnetic north. |
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And you can test it by placing a compass alongside. Eureka! |
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