Will compass work during pole reversal?

Will the directions change to its opposite side on the conventional compass? If that happens, does it still serve a practical use for travelers?

My guess is that it would work perfectly.
Except everything would be a$$ backwards

I imagine a pole reversal would have many effects on the world we live in.
My question is does it flip instantly, or is it a slow change that happens over many years?

It would depend how quicklt the reversal takes place.

My personal feeling is that it would take weeks or months - during which time the magnetic field will be quite chaotic, there will be multiple poles popping up and dissipating in a very unpredictable way... A bit like the sun has many poles - but not as violent.

Then after we have been dosed with cosmic radiation and we all look like frogs things will settle down and we can try to figure out which way is north!

Will a compass work? Probably backwards.

What about electricity? AC/DC will be reversed. So all electric outlets will have to be switched...

I dont know lets wait and find out if the arrow points towards the south when it supposedly takes place...

IMO, I think there's ALOT more to worry about than a compass.

reply to post by havok

What about electricity? AC/DC will be reversed. So all electric outlets will have to be switched...

Really?? Do you understand electricity? Seems not.

Tell me, if electricity, whether Alternating Current or Direct Current, requires a planet's magnetic field in order to work, how do spacecraft work? Hmmm?

ATS is about 'denying ignorance', not spreading it.

Originally posted by havok
Will a compass work? Probably backwards.

What about electricity? AC/DC will be reversed. So all electric outlets will have to be switched...

I dont know lets wait and find out if the arrow points towards the south when it supposedly takes place...

IMO, I think there's ALOT more to worry about than a compass.

Thank, now I know why where ACDC take their band name