Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi, I read this whole thread and I still need some questions answered if you don't mind.
So I calculated the Magnetic North for each location, and I was confused about what to do with it now that I calculated it. The wording is a bit scarce on what/how to calculate the results now that I have the MN.
My title is a bit funny 'Animal Moo-gnetism'... Do you think that judges would appreciate that? Or do you think I should make it more mature/sophisticated?
Thanks,
Nicole

I assume you are referring to the Scibuddies project "Do Large Animals Align Themselves with Earth's Magnetic Field?"
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... etic-field

Your title is fine as long as you make it immediately clear what it refers to by stating the question: "Do Large animals..."

I read the procedure for the project and as far as I can tell, you have to compare the alignment of the cattle with the direction of magnetic north and determine the difference in degrees from MN. Then you plot the points, meaning the degree differences of the cows' axes from MN and count how many cattle are oriented (head-to-tail or tail-to-head) within 45 degrees of MN. The closer they are to the direction of MN, the better their alignment.

This is a really intriguing project and I have no idea what the outcome will be. Please post again and let us know.

Sybee

Hi, I've got everything set out and I put a picture of the pasture under a piece of glass and drew lines through the axes of the cattle. I also put the MN under the glass too. I lined it up with the edge of the picture and taped it on the pasture picture. I am wondering how to measure the angle if the line of MN doesn't reach any of the cows' axes. I'll attach a picture.

https://sketch.io/render/sk-9093e2b3633 ... 7ec19.jpeg

Hi Nicole,

Great! Sounds like you are almost done with the alignment experiment.

The MN line and the axis line of a cow won't always be in the right position for measuring so you will have to move your protractor. Position the protractor so that it lines up with MN through the zero degree mark. You can shift your MN overlay but be sure to keep the same orientation with the picture of the cattle. The degree scale of the protractor needs to be next to the axis line of the cow so you can read its degrees left or right of MN.

Remember that you are reading degrees either side of 0 which is perfect alignment with MN. The closer a cow's axis is to the MN line, the better the alignment.

Something to think about is that your picture of the cattle is just one snapshot in time. To test alignment, the cattle would have to be observed many times and over a longer period.

I hope this helps. It is a little hard to explain in words how to do the alignment measurement, but you will figure it out. Do let us know your conclusion.

Sybee