Question
Which statement correctly describes Earth’s magnetic field?
A compass can lead a hiker to the geographic North Pole.
The magnetic pole near the South Pole is a north pole.
Compasses point toward a magnetic pole that is a north pole.
Field lines circle Earth from east to west.
A compass can lead a hiker to the geographic North Pole.
The magnetic pole near the South Pole is a north pole.
Compasses point toward a magnetic pole that is a north pole.
Field lines circle Earth from east to west.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The statement that correctly describes Earth's magnetic field is:
**Compasses point toward a magnetic pole that is a north pole.**
This statement is accurate because compasses are designed to align themselves with Earth's magnetic field and point toward the magnetic north pole, which is located near the geographic North Pole but is not the same point.
The other statements are incorrect or misleading:
- A compass does not lead one to the geographic North Pole directly due to the difference between magnetic north and true north.
- The magnetic pole near the South Pole is often referred to as a magnetic south pole, which means a compass's north-seeking end is attracted to it.
- The field lines of Earth's magnetic field actually run from the magnetic south pole to the magnetic north pole, which means they circulate from south to north, not east to west.
**Compasses point toward a magnetic pole that is a north pole.**
This statement is accurate because compasses are designed to align themselves with Earth's magnetic field and point toward the magnetic north pole, which is located near the geographic North Pole but is not the same point.
The other statements are incorrect or misleading:
- A compass does not lead one to the geographic North Pole directly due to the difference between magnetic north and true north.
- The magnetic pole near the South Pole is often referred to as a magnetic south pole, which means a compass's north-seeking end is attracted to it.
- The field lines of Earth's magnetic field actually run from the magnetic south pole to the magnetic north pole, which means they circulate from south to north, not east to west.