Final answer:
Cardinal directions such as North, South, East, and West do not provide latitude or distance but offer orientation for navigation. The north pole of the compass needle points to geographic North. Latitude measures the position north or south of the equator in degrees.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question 'What do the cardinal directions tell you?' can be approached by understanding the cardinal directions and their relation to geographical coordinates. The cardinal directions are North, South, East, and West. These directions are fundamental in navigating and describing locations on Earth, and are often used in conjunction with a compass for orientation.
When considering a compass needle, specifically in relation to the bar magnet concept mentioned, the north pole of the compass needle points towards the Earth's magnetic north which is approximately aligned with its geographic north. Hence, the correct answer to 'In which direction does the north pole of the compass needle point?' is a. North.
It is important to note that cardinal directions do not directly tell you a location's latitude, its distance from another point, or binary directions like northward or southward. Instead, they help in navigating from one point to another by providing a frame of orientation. Latitude, however, is related to the position north or south of the equator measured in degrees, where the equator has a latitude of 0° and the poles are at 90° North or South.