Question

Your friend says that, when a compass is taken across the equator, it turns around and points in the opposite direction. Your other friend says that this is not true, that people in the Southern Hemisphere use the south magnetic pole of the compass to point toward the nearest pole. You're on; what do you say?

Answer 1

Either way, they both aren't accurate.

Step-by-step explanation:

The compass never points the opposite direction nor toward across the equator.

Answer 2

Step-by-step explanation:

Both are incorrect.

When compass is taken across the equator to either north or south pole , it stops to show direction . In other words , in whatever direction the needle is set , it remains stagnant in that position .

This is due to the fact that the direction of earth's magnetic field is perpendicular to the axis of magnetic needle in vertical direction at both the poles . So the component of force needed to align them in a particular direction in horizontal plane is zero. Hence in spite of experiencing a force in vertical direction , its movement in horizontal plane is free. If it is allowed to move in vertical plane , then it will start showing true direction of pole.