Magnetic Dip
What is magnetic dip?
Magnetic dip is the tendency of a compass needle to point downward (dip) as it's pulled toward the Earth's magnetic poles by the vertical component of the Earth's magnetic field. This dip is nearly zero at the magnetic equator—where the magnetic lines of force run parallel to the surface—and increases as you move toward the poles. It's the underlying cause of magnetic compass errors during acceleration, deceleration, and turns. Think of it as the reason your compass "lies" when you speed up, slow down, or turn near the poles.
Also known as: dip error, compass dip
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