A compass is an object used for geographic orientation. Its construction took place with reference to the compass rose, which is composed of cardinal, collateral and subcollateral points. It is an object with a magnetic needle that is attracted to the Earth's magnetic pole.
The development of the compass dates back to the year 2000 a. C., and the search for its improvement took place for centuries. A considerable advance was made when it was discovered that a thin piece of metal could be magnetized by rubbing it with iron ore. In 850 AD C., the Chinese, in search of greater precision in this instrument, began to magnetize needles in order to gain greater precision and stability, then came the compass - which currently works on the same principle developed by the Chinese.
Compass Model
Due to the great operational importance of the compass, astronomers and cartographers were mainly responsible for the insertion of this object of orientation in the West. The compass was of paramount importance in major navigations, serving as the main geographic orientation tool for navigators.
The object is composed of a small box of transparent material, called a capsule, inside it there is a metallic piece called a needle. The needle is balanced on a free-moving axis. This magnetized needle always points to the Earth's magnetic north pole. This is due to the large amount of molten iron inside the Earth, which acts as a magnet and attracts the magnetized compass needle.
Factors such as iron ore deposits, power lines, fences and other iron-bearing objects interfere with the precise functioning of the compass, as the magnetized needle will be influenced by these objects, not offering an orientation need.
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By Wagner de Cerqueira and Francisco
Graduated in Geography
Brazil School Team
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
FRANCISCO, Wagner de Cerqueira and. "Compass"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/geografia/bussola.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
