Byrne

Well, if what you say is true, then my answers to (a) and (b) should be reversed. We performed this in class a few months ago, and I'm almost certain that these were the correct results. I was always under the impression that what we refer to as the "North" pole is in actuality a south magnetic pole, so that is why the compass points towards the north when the compass is aligned in that direction.

Okay, say I have a coiled conductor below where the direction of the magnetic field is indicated in the North direction. +()()()()()- ---> N If I were to place a compass in the following position, what would happen? (a) COMPASS +()()()()()- (b) +()()()()()- COMPASS Okay, so given that the north end of a compass is repelled by the north pole of any magnet creating the field, are my answers correct: (a) COMPASS needle will point ---> as it is attracted by the southern magnetic flow created by the coiled conductor. (b) COMPASS needle will point ---> as it is repelled by the northern magnetic flow created by the coiled conductor.