ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Hand compass

A hand compass is a little tool that helps you find out which way you are going. It has two important pieces: a needle and a base.

The needle is a tiny bar that is magnetized, meaning it acts like a magnet. The needle always points to magnetic north, which is like a special way of showing you which way is north. It does this because the earth itself is like a giant magnet, and the needle is attracted to the magnetic force.

The base is the other part of the compass. It helps you use the needle to figure out your direction. The base usually has a round dial with little lines on it, like a clock face. There are also usually little arrows that point to important directions like north, south, east, and west.

Using a hand compass is easy. You hold the compass flat in your hand so that the needle can turn with gravity. Then, you turn the base of the compass until the arrow for north lines up with the needle. Once you have done this, you can use the compass to help you figure out which way you need to go to get where you want to go.

Overall, a hand compass is a cool little tool that works by using magnets and helps you find your way when you get lost.