Cardinal directions are the four main points of a compass: north, south, east, and west which are also known by the first letters: N,S,E, and W. These four directions are also known as cardinal points.
noun. an instrument for determining directions, as by means of a freely rotating magnetized needle that indicates magnetic north. the enclosing line or limits of any area; perimeter: You can find anything you want downtown within the compass of ten square blocks.
A compass needle is more sensitive to weakly magnetic materials. A mineral that is too faintly magnetic to be felt may still be observed to deflect a compass needle. Iron and steel will be attracted by a magnet. These metals will also deflect a compass needle, but metals such as aluminum and copper won't.
Directions can further be divided into the by points, eg NbyE, SWbyS resulting in a 32 point compass rose. Reciting the 32 points of the compass in order is known as 'boxing the compass'.
: a circle graduated to degrees or quarters and printed on a chart to show direction.
The eight half-winds are the direction points obtained by bisecting the angles between the principal winds. The half-winds are north-northeast (NNE), east-northeast (ENE), east-southeast (ESE), south-southeast (SSE), south-southwest (SSW), west-southwest (WSW), west-northwest (WNW) and north-northwest (NNW).
The compass told sailors how many degrees in which direction they were going. Mariners found the compass inaccurate because they didn't understand magnetic variation, the difference between true north and geographical north. Later they became more used to magnetic and geographical north and taught it to the young.
Fashioned into the shape of a spoon or ladle, the lodestone sat upon a flat, square-shaped plate made of bronze, which served as a representation of Earth. In the center of the plate, was a large circle representing the Heavens appeared in which the lodestone was placed.
To do this, Columbus used celestial navigation, which is basically using the moon, sun, and stars to determine your position. Other tools that were used by Columbus for navigational purposes were the compass, hourglass, astrolabe, and quadrant.
The Vikings invented the first practical magnetic compass and used it extensively in their travels to colonize or in war. Today all ships large and small use magnetic compasses to navigate. The mineral magnetite is an iron oxide that is easily magnetized when it forms. Magnetite is also known as Lodestone.
The magnetic compass impacted economy because, in allowing the Europeans to reach the Americas and the Indian Ocean trade routes, trade increased and the prosperity of Europe grew. The Arabs and Europeans, upon coming in contact with the magnetic compass through trade with China, worked with it to make it more useful.
The Chinese invented the compass about 100 A.D. But news of the compass did not spread to the rest of the world. Traders were the first to use the compass to find their way across deserts. By the 1400s, sailors were using a magnetic needle for the compass.
The compass is a vital component of camping gear, hiking gear or any activity where you spend a considerable amount of time outdoors, especially alone. This instrument remains steadfast through poor weather conditions, and it is easily packable. The compass is a reliable safety precaution for people of all ages.
The compass readings needs to be accurate when at sea, because an error of one or two degrees in long sea passages can make a difference of nautical miles in reaching the destination and might consume more time than expected. The compass reading at sea must be precise and accurate as much as possible.
There are two types of compasses in use.
- The dry card compass.
- The wet card compass.
Many compasses are usually liquid filled. Specifications: Compass Fluid contains alcohol concentration. This compass fluid is compatible with most liquid filled compasses.
Its construction is of a freely suspended spinning gyroscope powered by an electric motor. A spinning gyroscope tends to maintain the direction of its axis and in a gyrocompass this constant direction of the axis is towards true north.
Question 8Solution: Magnetic compass is a device which is used to locate the direction of a place. It always rests in a north-south direction and is very helpful as navigators in ships, submarines, aeroplanes.
mariner's compass, compass card.
The magnetic compass does not work in the laboratory because of the different magnetic field present. Explanation: the magnetic field which is present in the laboratory is more than the magnetic field which is produced by the earth.
