Homework Help Please!

[MyHorseBiggs]

This maybe extreeeeeemly simple for most, but i need help... Here's the question...

Do you think a compass on board
a space shuttle would still point to
the earth's north magnetic pole?
Would such a compass be useful
for navigation?

Thanks in advance!

[WashingtonBay]

Yes and Yes, to a degree :)

The space shuttle is still well within the magnetic field of the Earth. A compass will still point to the north magnetic pole. It would be most useful for navigation near the equator... less so over the poles, where it will be pointing down as much as ahead, which creates some wonky errors.

http://earthsci.org/education/teacher/basicgeol/platec/magfield.gif

[MyHorseBiggs]

So in space a compass still works?

[luv2show]

"Will a Compass Work in Space?

Will a normal camping-type compass work in space?
If you are within the magnetic field of the Earth (which extends about one fourth the way to the Moon) or other magnetized body, yes. Outside of this, the magnetic field away from the Sun and some of the other planets is probably too small to move the needle on a regular compass."

Dr. Eric Christian

http://helios.gsfc.nasa.gov/qa_sp_ev.html

[WashingtonBay]

Depends how far out in space :) A compass will still react to the nearest or strongest magnetic field, yes.

[menagerie]

"to a degree" that would depend on how far into space you were, say like on the moon, I wonder it the pull would still be enough to make it work?

[menagerie]

Sorry WB had already beat me to that! lol

[FoxFireEMT]

wow, learned something new today!!

[mare]

Hmmm. Sounds like the safest course would be to stay within sight of earth! :)

That was a cool link and I learned something, too.

[MyHorseBiggs]

Thanks a million! y'all are great!! :)