Why a compass points to the Earth's 0.6 gauss north magnetic pole thousands of miles away, but it can't point to a 5000 gauss toy magnet a few feet away?
The magnet's magnetic field is attenuated over the distance cube. The Earth's magnetic field is nearly uniform from 0.2 gauss around the equator to 0.6 gauss near the geographic poles. The Earth has no magnetic poles is a fact.
Sunlight orbiting the Earth induces a weak westward current in the atmosphere, which scientists misinterpret as the Earth having a magnetic field generated by a molten core.
This weak current causes all compasses to point north. This weak current becomes stronger as it approaches the poles because of the smaller circumference, producing auroras.
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