Magnetism and Electricity 



191 



FIG. 104. The compass needle follows the magnet. 



suspend it, ends down. Fasten the shoestring to the top of 

 a doorway so that the magnet can swing easily. Steady 

 the magnet and let it turn until it comes to a rest. 

 Mark the end that swings to the north. Turn this end 

 around to the south; let go and watch it. Place the 

 magnet the other way around in the loop so that you can 

 be sure that it is not twisting of the shoestring that makes 

 the magnet turn in this direction. 



Now stroke a needle several times along one arm of the 

 magnet, always in the same direction, as shown in Figure 105. 

 Hold the needle over some iron filings or touch any bit of 

 iron or steel with it. What has the needle become? Lay 

 it on a cardboard milk-bottle top of the flat kind, and on 

 that float it in the middle of a glass or earthenware dish of 

 water. Notice which end turns north. Turn this end to the 

 south and see what happens. Hold your magnet, ends up, 

 under the dish, and turn the magnet. What does the needle 

 do? 



