IWASM Kids Club - Science in Action

Science in Action

Compass in a Glass

Want to know which way to Santa’s house? Or just curious to find out which direction you’re facing? Then get ready, we’re making a compass!

You will need:

· Parent’s permission

· Glass jar

· Magnet

· Steel Needle

· Clear tape

· Thread (approximately 6 inches long)

· Compass

· Magic Marker

DIRECTIONS: First, you will need to magnetize your needle. Do this by rubbing the magnet against the needle 20 times in the same direction. Next, tie the thread around the middle of the needle so that it balances. Get the jar cover and tape the other end of the thread to the center of the jar lid. Gently lower the needle into the middle of the jar so that it hangs freely when you tighten the cover. Compare the way the sewing needle and the needle of the compass are pointing. You should see that the sewing needle has now become a compass needle because it is facing north like your other compass. Then, on the lid of the jar draw an “N” with the magic marker where the needle is pointing. You can also draw “S,” “E,” and “W” to show the other directions on the compass, just make sure you put them in the right order. Now you will always know which direction you are going!

Your compass should look like the below picture when you are done.

Cool Science Fact

The compass may have been used during the 3rd century B.C., or perhaps, if old tales have any validity, even 300 years earlier. The worlds first compass was first made in China during the Qin dynasty (221-206 B.C.), by balancing a piece of loadstone carved in the shape of a ladle on a round, bronze plate. The earliest documentation that comes from the use of the compass was found in the 3rd century. "When the people of the State of Zheng go out in search of jade, they carry a south pointer with them so as not to lose their way in the mountains." This quote was one of the earliest documentation to tell the use of a tool which they used to find their way of getting back home and not getting lost in their travels. The first person recorded by name to use this tool was Zheng He (1371-1435), a Muslim from the Yunnan province. By order of the emperor he made seven ocean voyages between 1405 and 1433.