How come "true" north is not magnetic north

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sdhobbs  

Posted:
Fri Jul 04, 2008 12:49 am

Joined: 23 Jun 2008
Posts: 19
How come "true" north is not magnetic north

Am I beiing really stupid or missing something really obvious, but if our magnetic field is being generated from our spinning in space then how can its poles be different from the center of our axial rotation?

This seems most odd to me. Has anyone got a reasonable (and please not TOO complicated) answer?


Lydia   Site Admin

Posted:
Sat Jul 05, 2008 10:44 pm

Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Posts: 645

Welcome to the Forum.
Your question is a very valid one.

Magnetic north is the result of metallic particles in the earth's crust post plate tectonics and continental drift. Due to the shifting over time, this is no longer true north but magnetic north.

True north is the northern axis point.
Hope this helps.


LL/


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