Robert Norman facts for kids
Robert Norman was an English sailor, compass maker, and map expert who lived in the 1500s. He made a very important discovery about the Earth's magnetic field. He found out about something called "magnetic inclination," also known as "magnetic dip." This is when a compass needle points up or down, not just sideways, because of how the Earth's magnetism works.
Robert Norman's Big Discovery
Robert Norman is famous for his book, The Newe Attractive, which came out in 1581. In this book, he wrote about magnets and how to use them for navigation. Most importantly, he described his measurement of magnetic dip.
What is Magnetic Dip?
Magnetic dip is when a compass needle, instead of staying flat, tilts at an angle towards or away from the ground. This happens because the Earth's magnetic field does not run perfectly flat or parallel to the planet's surface.
Another person, Georg Hartmann, had noticed this effect in 1544. However, Robert Norman showed it in a very clear way. He created a special compass needle that could pivot, or turn, on a horizontal bar. When he used it, the needle tilted at a steep angle. This showed everyone how magnetic dip worked.
Even though magnetic dip was known before Norman, his book had a much bigger impact. It helped people understand this important part of Earth's magnetism better.
Norman's Legacy
A crater on the Moon is named Norman in his honor. This shows how important his discoveries were to science.
See also
- William Gilbert
- History of geomagnetism
- List of geophysicists
- Shen Kuo, discoverer of magnetic declination
