Needle & Cork Compass
suggested grade levels: 5-12
view Idaho achievement standards for this lesson

Materials:

¼" slice of cork

saucer

detergent

magnet

needle

Procedure:
Add a small amount of detergent to a dish of water. This will permit an object to float freely in the center of the saucer. Magnetize the needle by stroking it with the magnet. Stroke from the middle of the needle toward one end with one pole of the magnet and from the middle toward the other end with the other pole. Stroke from the middle to the end only. Run the needle through the slice of cork. Float the cork in the dish of water. It will turn so that the needle points north and south. The apparatus is now a compass.

Related Lesson Topics:
Geology: Geology Topics