Final answer:
The Earth's magnetic field causing a compass to point north is a fact. Earth acts like a bar magnet with the magnetic north pole actually being a magnetic south pole. A compass needle’s north pole points toward the magnetic south pole near Earth’s geographic North Pole.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the Earth has a magnetic field that causes a compass to point north is a fact. This is due to the Earth acting like a large bar magnet, with the magnetic field lines pointing from the magnetic north pole to the magnetic south pole. However, it's important to note that what we commonly refer to as the magnetic north pole is actually the magnetic south pole of Earth's internal magnet because a compass needle’s north pole points toward it. The geographic North Pole is located near this magnetic south pole.
The Earth's magnetic field is generated by the movement of liquid metals in its outer core, which creates electric currents. A compass can be used to find the magnetic north pole and help us navigate. Over time, the precise locations of the magnetic poles do shift slightly, and the Earth’s magnetic field has historically flipped at irregular intervals, reversing the locations of magnetic north and south.