The students describe how to make a water compass by magnetizing a needle and attaching it to styrofoam that floats in a bowl of water. They predicted the needle would be too heavy to float but found it worked as well as a regular pocket compass. Their conclusion is that a homemade water compass is possible and as effective as a store-bought compass, allowing detection of magnetic fields.

1. How to make a Water Compass
By Kevin, Tobi, and Tom

2. Question
•Can You Make a Water Compass?

3. Predictions
•We thought the compass wouldn’t work
as well as a regular pocket compass
•We thought the needle would be too heavy
and sink

4. Plans
1. Fill bowl with two inches of water
2. Magnetize the needle by stroking it
20 times on the bar magnet in one direction
3. Cut out a styrofoam piece 2cm in every
Direction
4. Tape the magnetized needle onto styrofoam
5. Test the water compass to a pocket compass

5. Results
•W
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n
d
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6. Conclusion
•We claim that making a water compass is possible
•We can prove that by comparing it with a pocket compass right now
•Our results show that you don’t have to buy a compass, you can just make your
own
•Our results also show a water compass is as same as a pocket compass
•You can use this in real life to detect magnetic fields
•Next time we would change our bowl into a wider bowl
•We still wonder if we should use oil instead of water

7. Real world uses
•W
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