True North vs. Magnetic North Knowing the difference between true north and magnetic north requires knowledge of the earth’s rotation. It also requires knowledge of a concept called polar shift.

The earth rotates on its axis every 24 hours. True north and true south are at the ends of the axis. They are on the opposite ends of the earth. These ends are also known as the world’s poles. On a map, a line of longitude stretches north to south, from the True, or Geographic, South Pole to the True, or Geographic, North Pole. On a compass, the needle points to the Magnetic North Pole. The needle, which is made of metal, responds to changes in the earth’s core

Earth’s core is made of iron. Iron is magnetic. Surrounding the core is liquid metal. This liquid creates electrical currents. In turn, those currents create a magnetic field. The earth’s magnetic field is constantly changing because the liquid metal is constantly moving. Therefore, Magnetic North is constantly moving, too.

Geographic north is an actual point on the earth, while magnetic north is not. Geographic north is located in the middle of the Arctic Ocean. It always stays in the same place. Magnetic north can be quite a distance away from there. Currently, the Magnetic North Pole is in Ellesmere Island in Northern Canada. It is about 310 miles (499 km) from the Geographic North Pole, and moving farther away all the time. According to scientists, the magnetic poles are moving, or shifting, north at a rate of about 25 miles (40 km) a year. Every 200,000 to 300,000 years, the poles flip. If you were standing at the Geographic North Pole and holding a compass at that exact moment, the needle would suddenly point in the opposite direction.

Explain why it is important to understanding if a map direction is based on true north or magnetic north?

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