Why does a compass needle point north?

It aligns with Earth's magnetic field

What creates Earth's magnetic field?

Moving molten iron in the outer core

How can you make an electromagnet?

Pass current through a coil around iron

What causes the northern lights?

Solar particles guided by Earth's magnetic field

What has happened to Earth's magnetic poles many times in history?

They moved to the equator permanently

Magnetism Quiz: Can You Get 8 Out of 10?

This magnetism quiz covers magnetic poles, compasses, Earth's magnetic field, electromagnets, magnetic materials, MRI machines and the auroras. Can you get 8 out of 10 on the invisible force that guides compasses and powers motors?

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Poles
What happens when two north poles of magnets face each other?
Metals
Which metal is strongly attracted to magnets?
Compass
Why does a compass needle point north?
Earth
What creates Earth's magnetic field?
Electromagnet
How can you make an electromagnet?
Oersted
Who discovered in 1820 that electric current deflects a compass?
Aurora
What causes the northern lights?
Flips
What has happened to Earth's magnetic poles many times in history?
Trains
Which trains float using magnets?
Medicine
Which medical scanner uses strong magnets?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: What happens when two north poles of magnets face each other?
Answer: They repel
Like poles repel and opposite poles attract.
Q2: Which metal is strongly attracted to magnets?
Answer: Iron
Nickel and cobalt are also magnetic.
Q3: Why does a compass needle point north?
Answer: It aligns with Earth's magnetic field
Earth acts like a giant magnet.
Q4: What creates Earth's magnetic field?
Answer: Moving molten iron in the outer core
This is called the geodynamo.
Q5: How can you make an electromagnet?
Answer: Pass current through a coil around iron
Turning off the current turns it off.
Q6: Who discovered in 1820 that electric current deflects a compass?
Answer: Hans Christian Ørsted
This linked electricity and magnetism.
Q7: What causes the northern lights?
Answer: Solar particles guided by Earth's magnetic field
They collide with gases high in the atmosphere.
Q8: What has happened to Earth's magnetic poles many times in history?
Answer: They have reversed
Rocks record these reversals.
Q9: Which trains float using magnets?
Answer: Maglev trains
Shanghai's maglev has reached about 430 km/h in service, the fastest of any commercial train.
Q10: Which medical scanner uses strong magnets?
Answer: MRI
It images soft tissues without radiation.

Magnetism Quiz – The Invisible Force

Magnetism is a force produced by moving electric charges and by the arrangement of electrons in certain materials. Every magnet has a north and south pole, and opposite poles attract while like poles repel. Iron, nickel and cobalt are the most familiar magnetic metals.

Earth itself is a giant magnet, its field produced by swirling molten iron in the outer core. This field guides compass needles, shields the planet from harmful solar particles and creates the beautiful auroras near the poles. Some birds, turtles and fish even use it to navigate.

In 1820 Hans Christian Ørsted showed that electricity and magnetism are connected, and scientists soon built electromagnets, motors and generators. Today magnetism powers electric motors, speakers, hard drives, maglev trains and MRI scanners.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is for students and science fans exploring magnetism.

How poles behave
Why compasses point north
What makes Earth's field
How electromagnets work
What causes auroras

Did You Know?

Magnetite is a natural magnetic rock.
Magnetic north slowly moves each year.
Fridge magnets are often flexible.
Superconducting magnets cool to very low temperatures.
The southern lights are aurora australis.