A small magnetic compass needle is placed on a piece of cork floating in a quiet bowl of water. When the needle is gently spun and then allowed to come to rest, it always aligns itself pointing in the same north-south direction. Which of the following statements explains why the compass needle always comes to rest pointing in the same direction?
It is due to the interaction between the gravitational field of the Earth and the magnetic field of the needle.
It is due to the interaction between the electric field of the needle and the magnetic field of the Earth.
It is due to the interaction between the magnetic field of the needle and the magnetic field of the Earth.
It is due to the interaction between the electric field of the Earth and the gravitational field of the needle.
169 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics Simple phenomena of magnetism, covering Simple phenomena of magnetism. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.