Instructions


Materials

1 inflatable globe 1 small, plastic protractor
1 magnetic compass with degree markings 2 or more fine point DRY ERASE marker (different colors)


Procedure


Step 1: Find Your Local Noon


  • Go outside on a sunny day and either find a vertical object such as a lamp post, or use a metal rod that has been fastened to some sort of base, ensuring that it is perpendicular to the ground.
  • Periodically draw a line on the ground with chalk to mark the length of the shadow, and mark the time the line was drawn. Once the shadow has reached its shortest, and started to increase again, make a few more markings.
  • Draw a curve that connects the ends of all the lines that were drawn earlier, and mark the spot where the curve is the closest to the lamppost or metal rod. A straight line drawn from the object to this mark will point in the direction of true north (see figure below).


Step 2: Locating the Magnetic North Pole

Note: Be sure to conduct your experiment outdoors, staying away from buildings, or any other possible of magnetic fields. Other fields may cause the compass to not point to the Magnetic North Pole.

  • Orient your compass so that the marking on it that says north points in the same direction as the line you drew pointing to true north.
  • Record the angle that the needle makes with the north marking.
15 degrees West 0 degrees 15 degrees East



Step 3: Using your data

  • Inflate your globe, making it as round as possible.


  • Locate your city and mark it using one of the markers.


  • Draw a line from your city to the North Pole.


  • Place the globe on a table, and orient it so that your city on top (pointing directly towards the ceiling). Now, take the protractor and mark on the globe the measured number of degrees. Then, draw a line from your city through the mark you made.


NOTE:  By using DRY ERASE markers, if you make a mistake, you can use isopropyl alcohol and a tissue to remove the marker.



Step 4: Locating the Magnetic North Pole

  • Submit your data online.
  • While there, take down the data submitted from at least one other school. Mark this data on your globe, just like you marked your own.
  • The point of intersection of the lines measured to the magnetic north pole is its location!