Why compass readings can be unreliable. Drawing, description

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Why compass readings can be unreliable. Children's Science Lab

Children's Science Lab

"True, as well as the fact that the compass needle points to the pole" - sung in an old song, this means that a sailor can trust the compass, the needle of which points to true north. But when Christopher Columbus made his famous first voyage, he learned that in different parts of the world the compass does not point in the same direction. In Europe, the compass pointed north, while in America it pointed in a different direction. Nowadays, the compass needle points north in America, but not in Europe. In addition, there are some places where the compass needle also points in the wrong direction.

Why compass readings can be unreliable

It is also true that the compass does not always point in the same direction even in the same place, it changes slightly from time to time during the day. And the strength of the Earth's magnetic field attracts the compass needle stronger at one time or another. In short, the Earth is a permanent magnet, but the parameters and position of which change slightly from time to time.

Why compass readings can be unreliable

The earth has two magnetic poles, but they are not exactly opposite each other. One of them is located in the northern United States, on the shores of the Arctic Ocean, and the other is located in Antarctica. These poles move slowly, over time they will change places. But if a compass needle were attracted to a huge piece of iron in the Earth at a depth of a couple of thousand kilometers, then one would expect that the magnetic field would be fairly uniform.

Why compass readings can be unreliable

Scientists are now turning their attention to outer space above us and its effect on the compass needle. We know that solar activity affects radio waves, that electric currents flow in the ionosphere caused by the solar wind - electrical particles flying from the Sun. These currents generate a magnetic field and deflect the compass needle.

The electric waves that are constantly going around the globe are stronger around three o'clock in the afternoon and they move around the planet, being between the observer and the Sun. However, we cannot use the currents flowing in the ionosphere for our own purposes, although if we succeeded, they would provide all our need for the necessary electricity.

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Hydrogen is the cheapest way to cut emissions 03.09.2021

Green hydrogen produced using clean energy will be the cheapest way to reduce steel industry CO2 emissions to zero by 2050. This assessment was given by the research organization Bloomberg NEF.

The production of "green" steel using hydrogen currently provides for premiums on the price. By 2050, the cost of the process is likely to be less than production based on metallurgical coal or natural gas, despite the construction of new plants, according to Bloomberg NEF.

Geography will be one of the main factors in evaluating the most cost-effective ways to produce green steel. In particular, a country with high supply can make hydrogen the main fuel for steel production, while a country with developed hydroelectric power or other "clean" energy sources can electrify steelmaking using molten oxide electrolysis.

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On the other hand, consulting firm McKinsey believes that steel production using hydrogen, carbon capture and storage technologies, carbon capture and use technologies can pay off no earlier than 2050. To do this, it is necessary to increase the scale of hydrogen production.

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