Make: Volume 91

a flat, smooth surface without any other magnets

nearby.

Thread Compass

Wrap or tape a piece of thread to two motor

magnets. Suspend the magnets (Figure

M

),

and they will eventually stop in the North/South

direction.

Needle Compass

You can use a needle to make a sneaky compass

— but instead we’ll use the small V-shaped

magnet clip from inside our motor!

Straighten the clip. To magnetize it, stroke it

with a magnet 20 times in the same direction.

Stick the clip through a piece of sponge or

adhesive foam tape (Figure

N

) and gently float it

on the surface of still water (Figure

O

). The clip

will eventually settle and point in the North/South

direction. ...