A '''compass''' is a navigational tool which points due [[magnetic north]], allowing travelers to find their way by inferring other directions and paths through the process of ''orienteering''. Compasses, physically, are [[magnet|magnetized]] pieces of metal which, being magnetized, follow magnetic field lines to point to the north. The metal piece typically floats in liquid to ensure low-friction and accurate motion. Compasses were first used by [[Portugal|Portuguese]] explorers in the [[Age of Exploration]]. | A '''compass''' is a navigational tool which points due [[magnetic north]], allowing travelers to find their way by inferring other directions and paths through the process of ''orienteering''. Compasses, physically, are [[magnet|magnetized]] pieces of metal which, being magnetized, follow magnetic field lines to point to the north. The metal piece typically floats in liquid to ensure low-friction and accurate motion. Compasses were first used by [[Portugal|Portuguese]] explorers in the [[Age of Exploration]]. |