The Flat Earth Society

Flat Earth Discussion Boards => Flat Earth Media => Topic started by: Orbisect-64 on June 26, 2015, 09:35:33 PM

Title: Compasses, and Needles, and North, OH MY!
Post by: Orbisect-64 on June 26, 2015, 09:35:33 PM
Were the earth round...

Using a compass at the south pole, or south of the equator, the needle would DIP DOWN, attempting to point to the north. The needle would actually want to point through the planet.

In a spherical compass the inner circle freely floats around in ALL directions—it can even float upside down (especially if you remove the bottom weight).

If earth were a sphere, holding such a compass at the south pole or south of the equator, north would always point to the earth, because north would be on the other side of the planet.

http://img.dxcdn.com/productimages/sku_1336_1.jpg

Yet as we know, all compass needles point straight ahead, and do not dip, so long as the compass is held level to the ground.


—Rx
Title: Re: Compasses, and Needles, and North, OH MY!
Post by: markjo on June 27, 2015, 03:36:08 AM
If earth were a sphere, holding such a compass at the south pole or south of the equator, north would always point to the earth, because north would be on the other side of the planet.

http://img.dxcdn.com/productimages/sku_1336_1.jpg

Yet as we know, all compass needles point straight ahead, and do not dip, so long as the compass is held level to the ground.


—Rx
Have you ever held a compass near either of the magnetic poles to personally test your assertion?
Title: Re: Compasses, and Needles, and North, OH MY!
Post by: Pete Svarrior on June 27, 2015, 03:40:31 AM
Have you ever held a compass near either of the magnetic poles to personally test your assertion?
Near enough to warrant a 45-degree dip, yes.