• smeenz@lemmy.nz
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    21 hours ago

    The earth’s magnetic field is much weaker than a simple coil in a transformer, as can be easily demonstrated by holding a compass near said device and watching the needle align with that instead of the earth.

    • Holzbesteck@feddit.org
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      20 hours ago

      The earths magnetic field influences the needle when I am standing 400+ km away from magnetic north. To have the coil of a transformer influence my needIe, I have to be relatively close to it. So I feel like your statement is incorrect.

      I’ll happily be corrected if I overlooked or misunderstood something.

      • smeenz@lemmy.nz
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        12 hours ago

        The field isn’t located at the north or south pole - you’re not 400km away from it, you’re immersed inside the field, and your compass is showing the local alignment of that field.

        Just about anything with an EM field of its own will be stronger than that.