Darren Wilkinson, age 9, of McHenry, Ill., for his question:

WHAT IS MAGNETIC NORTH?

Magnetism of the earth is similar to that which surrounds a coil of wire when electricity flows through it. Scientists believe the earth's core provides electricity which produces the magnetism surrounding earth.

The earth spins around an imaginary line that connects the North Pole and the South Pole. Near each of these poles, the earth also has a magnetic pole. The magnetic poles act like the ends of a magnet and make compass needles point north.

The north magnetic pole is near Bathurst Island in northern Canada, about 1,000 miles from the North Pole. The south magnetic pole is in Wilkes Land, which is part of Antarctica. It is about 1,600 miles away from the South Pole.