Question

What happens to the needle when you ""flip polarity"" in the control panel?

A) The needle moves in the opposite direction.
B) The needle remains stationary.
C) The needle loses its magnetism.
D) The needle becomes more magnetized.

Answer 1

Flipping polarity in a control panel causes the compass needle to move in the opposite direction, aligning with the new magnetic field direction.

Step-by-step explanation:

When you flip polarity in the control panel of a magnetic compass, the magnetic field interacting with the compass needle is reversed. As a result, the needle moves in the opposite direction to align with the new direction of the magnetic field. Therefore, among the given options, A) The needle moves in the opposite direction is the correct answer. This change in direction occurs because the needle itself is a magnet, and when subjected to an external magnetic field, the poles of the needle magnet are influenced by the orientation of the external magnetic field.