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Compass

The document provides a history of the compass and describes how modern compasses work by using a magnetic needle or capsule to align with the earth's magnetic field. It explains the basic features of compasses like the measurement ring to observe angles and sighting mechanisms, and how compasses are used for wilderness navigation tasks like orientation, taking bearings, and plotting routes on a map.

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Khafifah Alya
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77 views

Compass

The document provides a history of the compass and describes how modern compasses work by using a magnetic needle or capsule to align with the earth's magnetic field. It explains the basic features of compasses like the measurement ring to observe angles and sighting mechanisms, and how compasses are used for wilderness navigation tasks like orientation, taking bearings, and plotting routes on a map.

Uploaded by

Khafifah Alya
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Compass

Some History
• As far back as 2500 BCE the Chinese knew
that a loadstone on a piece of floating wood,
would always point itself in the same
direction.
• Later with the move from bone to iron
needles, it was noticed that an iron needle
placed near a loadstone would also take on
these directional properties.
The Modern Compass
• Modern compasses typically have a
magnetic needle or capsule that floats freely
on a central pivot, so that it can align itself
with the earth’s magnetic field.
• Electronic compasses, with no moving
parts, are made by measuring small currents
in coils of wire, induced by the earth’s
magnetic field.
Angular Measurement
• A compass will have a angular measurement ring to
observe the angle between the compass needle and the
compass body.
• The most common angular measurement system is a 360°
circle.
• Other systems include
– Four 90° quadrants
– Mills, a system that divides a circle into 6400 parts
– Avoid these for wilderness navigation purposes
Sighting Mechanism
• Many compasses include some mechanism
for sighting to a distant point to measure the
angle of the line to that object relative to the
compass needle.
Other Features Abound
• Distance Scales
• Magnifying Lens
• Slope Measurement
• etc…
Compass Uses
• In wilderness navigation a compass is used to
do the following.
– General orientation to the 4 cardinal directions
– Taking a bearing to a distant object
– Traveling along a heading
– Plotting or measuring a bearing on a map
• This is using the compass as an expensive protractor,
and does not use it’s magnetic direction capabilities.
A Look at Some Common
Compass Types
Zipper Pull Compass
• Good for general
direction
Lensatic
• 5° markings
• So-so for sighting
• Useless for plotting
Baseplate
• 2° markings
• Good for map plotting
• Hard to sight on
a distant object
Mirrored
• 2° markings
• Good for sighting
• Good for plotting
• May have
adjustable declination
Sighting Baseplate
• 1° markings
• Best for sighting
• Good for plotting
• No declination
adjustment

• My personal favorite!
Parts of a compass
Taking a bearing to an object
• Sight to the object with the compass.
• Turn the ring to align the orienting arrow
with the red end of the magnetic needle.
• Read the bearing from the ring
at the index line.
Needle Parallax
View from Above View from Behind
Parallax Side View
Needle Parallax
Good Bad

Keep the needle parallel to the meridian lines.


Taking a back bearing
• A back bearing is taken looking back to
where you took the original bearing.
• A back bearing is 180° different from a
forward bearing.
• An easy technique is to align the south end
of the needle rather than the north end.
Classroom compass exercise
• Pair up with another student
• Take a bearing and a back bearing on each other.
• Bearings should agree within +/- 2°
• Try other positions in the classroom
• Try using other types of compasses

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