The 16mm Plotting Compass (One Glass Face) is a compact and economical version of the standard laboratory compass. While the 20mm dual-glass model is often used for overhead projection, these smaller 16mm units are specifically designed for individual student use on a flat surface or page.
Specifications
- Dimensions: Small 16mm (approx. 0.6") diameter, making them ideal for precise, point-by-point mapping where space around the magnet is limited.
- Construction: Features a single glass face housed in a durable aluminium or plastic case.
- Markings: The dial is marked with the cardinal points (N, S, E, W) and sometimes ordinal points (NE, SE, SW, NW) to help students identify the direction of magnetic flux.
- Packaging: Sold as a pack of 10, providing enough units for a small group or a comprehensive field map.
Primary Applications
- Point-to-Point Plotting: Due to their smaller size, they are the preferred tool for the "dot-and-move" method of tracing magnetic field lines on paper.
- Electricity Studies: Highly useful for making simple galvanometers or detecting the weak magnetic fields around current-carrying wires.
- Classroom Demonstrations: Provides a teachable, hands-on way to visualize the north-to-south flow of a magnet's field lines.