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| Thread ID: 141969 | 2016-04-03 22:41:00 | Can a compass be affected (permanently) by a microwave oven? | John H (8) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1418565 | 2016-04-03 22:41:00 | There might be a compass expert in PressF1 land... We keep a compass in the campervan to help tune the satellite dish. It was kept in the drawer directly under the microwave oven. I noticed recently that magnetic north was no longer where I expected it to be - in fact the compass appeared to be 180 degrees out. In fact that is what has happened - the compass has reversed polarity (if that is the correct term for north now showing as south and vice versa). Could that have been the result of keeping it in the drawer under the microwave? No biggie - just interested! I now keep the replacement compass well away from the oven... |
John H (8) | ||
| 1418566 | 2016-04-03 22:43:00 | I have a magnet zapper that does just that - reverses magnet polarity :) | Zippity (58) | ||
| 1418567 | 2016-04-03 22:55:00 | It could also mean that NZ is moving in a spiraling motion either closer to Australia, or closer to the US - in which case when you finally arrive, you will find that magnetic north is a few degrees off to the right of Olde North I think. I'm sure it's gonna be in the morning newspapers. |
SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
| 1418568 | 2016-04-03 23:35:00 | Oh no, Joe!! Does that mean our water will start to spiral down the drain clockwise instead of counter clockwise, as it does now? :confused: I am no compass expert but I have heard something similar from someone else, John H. |
Marnie (4574) | ||
| 1418569 | 2016-04-03 23:45:00 | I too, am no compass expert, but the microwave oven uses a cavity magnetron to make it's microwaves. So not too surprising, I suppose. en.wikipedia.org |
KarameaDave (15222) | ||
| 1418570 | 2016-04-03 23:59:00 | The magnet used in a cavity magnetron is very powerful indeed, as you would find out if you ever take one apart :) So there is probably enough magnetic field "leakage" to reverse polarity of a compass needle Edit: such a wonderfully simple device, yet it helped the allies win the war thanks to Randall and Boot :banana |
Terry Porritt (14) | ||
| 1418571 | 2016-04-04 00:05:00 | If the polarity is reversed, what happens if you put it in again and try to reverse back??? | Bryan (147) | ||
| 1418572 | 2016-04-04 00:34:00 | Thanks everyone. It looks like I did something really stupid by placing it in that drawer, but that is the drawer that contains all the bits and pieces like binoculars, gas level tester, stove lighter for when the ignition doesn't work, etc etc, and I didn't think... I replaced the compass after it was mucked up, but it is reasonably good quality, so I might buy a cheap kid's magnet and try to reverse the polarity. I certainly hadn't thought of putting it back in the drawer, but maybe that would work Bryan! |
John H (8) | ||
| 1418573 | 2016-04-04 01:11:00 | If you return the "stuffed" compass to the drawer beneath the microwave, make sure that you put in back in up-side-down :) | Zippity (58) | ||
| 1418574 | 2016-04-04 01:21:00 | you could just wait till the next polarity flip in the earths poles (due soon, relativity wise;) ) and your compass will already be set for the north pole's new magnetic polarity! | bevy121 (117) | ||
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