Final answer:
The Earth's 'North Magnetic Pole' is actually a magnetic south pole because it attracts the north pole of compass needles, which are themselves small bar magnets. This confusion stems from how we name geographic and magnetic poles. Earth's magnetic field is generated by electric currents from flowing liquid metals in the outer core.
Step-by-step explanation:
We visualize the Earth's magnetic field as though there is a bar magnet embedded within it. It's important to note that what we commonly refer to as the 'North Pole' of this internal magnet is actually a magnetic south pole, and vice versa. This is because a compass, which itself houses a small bar magnet, aligns such that its north pole points toward Earth's geographic North Pole. However, since magnetic opposites attract, this means that the pole of the Earth's magnet near the geographic North Pole is, in fact, a magnetic south pole. This misconception arises from a mix-up of geographic and magnetic terminology. A giant bar magnet in space near Earth would have its north pole attracted to Earth's magnetic south pole, demonstrating the same principle.
The Earth's magnetic field is the result of liquid metals flowing in its outer core, resulting in electric currents and consequently, a magnetic field. The magnetic poles are not fixed and can shift slightly over time, adding further complexity to the Earth's magnetism. This sometimes leads to a 'flip' in Earth's magnetic poles over geological timescales, further highlighting the dynamic nature of Earth’s magnetism.