An Overview of Tools to Determine the Direction
Have you ever been on a hiking or trekking trip in the mountains or deserts or the jungles where there is no internet, and you can only get out of the jungle on time if you follow the northwest direction? How will you be able to find the direction? Which instrument is used to find direction?
A compass is an ancient device which is used to easily determine the north direction and with that one can easily resolve the opposite direction which is the south. In this article, we are going to learn about this amazing device called the compass and know about its parts and how sailors use it to know different directions.
Compass
What is Direction in Science?
Scientifically direction is the way or the path that is chosen to be taken by any object or any organism to reach a specific place. It can also be called a place relative to the other that you are facing or want to go to. Based on any position or point, there can be four basic directions north, south, east, and west, respectively, which can further be bifurcated as northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest. For example, the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west. We can always assume with the rising and setting of the Sun which one is east and which one is west.
Which Instrument is Used to Find Direction?
A compass or a magnetic needle is the instrument to find direction. The most important part of compass is the magnetic needle. On the same needle or the pointer, it has both a north and a south pointer. A west and an east pointer are also included in some advanced types of compasses.
The instrument features a single red needle that is always pointing in the direction of the north. If we know how north, west, east, and south are arranged on a compass, we may use the reference point to identify any direction. For the past one thousands of years, navigators have used this magnetic compass as the instrument to find direction.
Directions
Important Parts of Compass
A good exploration compass will contain the following features:
A Baseplate - It is a rectangular surface which usually holds other parts on it and has markings of directions and numbers on it.
Scales and Rulers - These are the scales that are used to convert real-life distances and positions into a geographical picturization.
Travel Arrow - It points in the direction you are travelling towards.
Needle - it is a magnetic needle which reacts to Earth's magnetism and points in a direction.
Above are the important parts of the compass; now, with this, we are ready to know what is the use of a compass for sailors.
Instrument Used by Sailors to Find Directions
The most patent and widely used instrument used by sailors to identify the directions of their roots is the compass. Usually, the compass works on the magnetic principle of the earth but most of the time, it is used by the sailors to look at their routes on the water surface by revolving in the directions of the Sun or the star. The most prevailing type of compass is the magnetic compass which is equipped in various aircraft, ships, and also terrestrial vehicles.
The primitive compass had a needle which was mostly facing north. Then with time, there came more advanced compasses which had resolved various directions into components. The Earth's magnetic field is not parallel to the north-south direction, but it is more precise and closer. Although there is inaccuracy in the direction that is resolved by a compass, it is the most powerful instrument used by sailors to find directions.
Compass used by Sailors
Summary
To conclude all the learnings from this article, we can say that compass is a very important device that is used by drivers of various vehicles like aircraft, planes, ships etc. to determine the directions of their routes. It has been a very useful device since historic times and has made numerous developments and exploration possible. Without a compass, there would have been no discoveries of various Islands and places. With this, we would like to end this article and hope that all your doubts is clear now. If you still have queries, you can write them down in the comment section below.
FAQs on Instrument Used by Sailors to Find Directions
1. What is the primary instrument sailors use to find directions at sea?
The main instrument used by sailors to find directions is the magnetic compass. It works based on the Earth's magnetic field. A compass contains a small, magnetised needle that can rotate freely. This needle aligns itself with the Earth's magnetic field, causing one end to always point towards the magnetic North Pole, which helps sailors determine their heading and navigate accurately.
2. Before the invention of the compass, what methods did sailors use for navigation?
Before the compass, sailors relied on celestial navigation. This involved observing the positions of celestial bodies to determine their location and direction. During the day, they used the position of the Sun (rising in the east and setting in the west). At night, they used the stars. In the Northern Hemisphere, the North Star (Polaris) was crucial because it remains in a fixed position in the sky, directly above the North Pole. Sailors would find constellations to locate the North Star and navigate.
3. Why does a compass needle always point north?
A compass needle points north because the Earth itself acts like a giant magnet with its own magnetic poles. The magnetised needle inside the compass is attracted to the Earth's magnetic North Pole. The 'North-seeking' end of the compass needle is actually a south pole of the magnet, which is attracted to the Earth’s geographic North Pole (which is a magnetic south pole). This consistent alignment allows for reliable direction-finding.
4. How is an instrument for finding direction different from one that shows wind direction?
An instrument for finding direction (like a compass) is different from an instrument that shows wind direction (like a wind vane) in their purpose and mechanism.
- A compass uses magnetism to point to the Earth's fixed magnetic North, helping you find cardinal directions (North, South, East, West).
- A wind vane, on the other hand, is designed to rotate in the wind and points in the direction from which the wind is blowing. It tells you about immediate weather conditions, not your geographic orientation.
5. What kind of magnet is used inside a magnetic compass?
A magnetic compass uses a permanent magnet for its needle. This is crucial because a permanent magnet retains its magnetic properties over a long time without needing an external power source. The needle is typically made of a lightweight, magnetised piece of steel or an iron alloy, allowing it to align easily with the Earth's magnetic field. The use of a permanent magnet ensures the compass is always ready and reliable.
6. Besides sailors, who else uses a compass in their work?
A compass is a vital tool for various professions beyond sailing. Some examples include:
- Hikers and Trekkers: To navigate through wilderness and trails without getting lost.
- Architects and Surveyors: To orient buildings and map out land boundaries accurately.
- Pilots: As a backup navigational instrument in aircraft.
- Geologists: To record the orientation of rock structures in the field.
