Question

What is a neutral point? How is the position of a neutral point located with the use of a compass needle?

Answer 1

The compass works by aligning the needle's direction of the current magnetic field. The needles are like tiny components present in the compass. Because of the erratic behavior of earth magnetic fields, the compass produces the error results.

Complete answer:
Generally, every compass has two poles: the north pole and the south pole. Hence the compass points always point to the north pole. The north pole of the magnets attracts the south pole of the next magnet.
The earth is also like a magnet; it interacts with the other magnets in this way. In a magnet, the compounds are generated in tiny magnets. Since the earth has an iron core and rotation it has a magnetic field.
When the magnetic field of the magnet is equal to the magnitude of the earth's horizontal magnetic field but in opposite direction hence, it is called a neural point. Here, at the neural point, the net magnetic field is zero.
If the magnetic field is zero then the needle is at its rest position. When we keep the needle at the neural point then the needle comes to the rest position in all directions. Finally, the position of the neutral point can be found with the help of the compass.

Note:
Compass is simply a simple device. It is typically a hand held magnetic compass consisting of a little lightweight magnet near the pivot point. When a magnet is supposed to rotate it will automatically align itself with the earth's magnetic field.