compass pointing south

[nightcrawler13]

so during my eight months in Australia the compass I brought with me pointed south the entire time

I had a disagreement with friends over the weekend, as they said that couldn't be true and that's not how compasses work...

but I was there, I had the compass, for eight months it pointed south and then when I came back to the UK it works normally again

the only explanation i could think of at the time is that a compass points to the nearest magnetic pole as opposed to pointing to north, however I cant find anything on the internet to back me up, the closest i can find is that a compass' needle is weighted, and taking a northern compass down south could alter your bearings

but it wasn't 'altered', it was the opposite

could anyone shine some light on this?

[Ed209]

Three possibilities

1. You don't know your north from your south

2. What you thought was the north end of your compass was actually the south end

3. Your compass is crap

the north end of the compass always lines up in the direction of the South to North field lines. The laws of physics didn't just reverse themselves specially for you

Edited September 25, 2014 by Ed209

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Did you stand on your head at all times during your eight months in Australia? Oh, and have you got a real crooked arm?

[nightcrawler13]

I was in boy scouts for 10 years, which has given me the skills to tell the difference between the N and the S

[t8yman]

Good question, I would have thought it would point to the nearest pole, but everything I learnt as a child says otherwise!

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Had the compass been kept next to a magnet before or during your journey for a lengthy period of time? Apparently doing so can fuck up your compass.

[5co77ie]

Too many drugs?

It's called magnetic north for a reason. http://www.answers.com/Q/Why_does_the_compass_point_north_in_the_southern_hemisphere

Though in the southern hemisphere the water does go down the plug hole the other way.

[eFestivals]

Though in the southern hemisphere the water does go down the plug hole the other way.

that's nowt to do with magnets, that's to do with the earth spinning in the opposite direction from the perspective it's being looked at.

[krisskross]

You're not an idiot! It can happen because the counterweight is different for compasses in different countries depending on the magnetic field.

http://www.attackpoint.org/discussionthread.jsp/message_671085

edit to say - your compass is bad cos it shouldnt flip, just not turn properly

Edited September 26, 2014 by krisskross