The Earth has a magnetic field. Scientists aren't sure why. But they are sure that a compass needle lines up with the field.
The tiny steel needle in your compass turns until it lines up with this magnetic field. When it lines up, one end of the needle points northe and the other points south.But don't expect to reach the North Pole if you travel in the direction your compass points. The North Pole is axis around which the Earth spins. A compass points to a different North Pole: the magnetic north pole.
The magnetic north pole lies a few hundred miles away from the true North Pole.
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People who use compasses know just how much to change course if they want to travel to the true north or south--or anywhere in between.