The first recorded use of a compass involved a floating magnetic needle
Ancient Chinese mariners revolutionized navigation by placing magnetized iron needles on bits of wood or cork in water-filled bowls to find magnetic north during cloudy nights at sea.
Early Chinese texts from the 11th century describe the first maritime compasses as magnetized needles floating in bowls of water. This wet compass design allowed the needle to rotate freely with minimal friction, providing sailors with a reliable directional reference when the sun and stars were obscured.
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