Build a simple compass in a few minutes

A compass is pretty useful in new places. Astronomers use a compass while stargazing. Here is a tutorial on making a simple compass in a few minutes.

Materials required:

A small, waterproof, circular and flat object (I used a circular piece of waterproof cardboard)

A permanent magnet (preferably bar shaped)

Any container filled with water till half and can hold the width of cardboard.

Method:

Use super glue and stick the bar magnet to the cardboard with the south pole of magnet facing the center of cardboard (see the picture). Don’t stick the magnet too near to the center or too near to the edge, it will mess the whole apparatus. Take a wide container with water filled till half. Put the cardboard on the water. Depending on the size of the magnet the cardboard will either sink or float. Either way it is fine. As soon as you drop the cardboard into water the magnet will point to the north. You can rotate the container and check it.

You can use some kind of transparent lid like tape to prevent wind from affecting the cardboard.