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Of True North and Magnetic North and Compass North which is really up?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
True North is the real North, following along the lines of longitude which converge at the North Pole, the farthest geographically North point on the planet, and the rotational axis of the planet. Magnetic North and Compass North are both the same thing, with the compass pointing along Magnetic North. Magnetic North however, is not the real North. If you were to follow your compass as far North as it could point, you would end up on the Prince of Wales Island in the Northwest Territories of Canada, over 1,500 miles away from the North Pole. Magnetic North can be adjusted to True North on your compass by knowing the local magnetic variation of your area and adding/subtracting accordingly. A third North is Grid North, which follows the Grid Lines on a standard map. At the South Pole, every direction is True North, so Grid North is used instead and can be found by following the Prime Meridian northwards. Hope that helps.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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What is the name of the difference of true north and magnetic north?
The difference is referred to as magnetic, or compass, declination.
Why do orienteering maps have magnetic North Pole instead of the true North Pole?
That is because the map is used with a magnetic compass. Since the needle on the compass points in the direction of magnetic north it is easier to use the map with the compass if the lines drawn on the map indicate magnetic north.
Why does the north end of a compass point north?
It doesn't.But let's start with a little background. 'True North' and 'True South' are fixed locations that coincide with the earth's axis of rotation. The earth's magnetic field exists between 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South', so-called to distinguish these locations from 'True North' and 'True South'. The locations of 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South' are always moving relative to the positions of 'True North' and 'True South'.It's important to understand that 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South' are locations, and not the magnetic polarities of these locations!The ends of a compass needle are named after the directions in which they point. Originally, they were called the 'north-seeking pole' and the 'south-seeking pole' respectively, because those are the directions in which they roughly pointed. Actually, they point to Magnetic North and Magnetic South, not True North or True South. By convention, these names (these days, shortened to 'north' and 'south') also define the magnetic polarities of the compass needle.Because 'opposite poles attract', the magnetic polarity of Magnetic North must be a south pole in order to attract the north pole of a compass needle. And, of course, the magnetic polarity of Magnetic South must be a north pole in order to attract the south pole of a compass needle.
Does the magnetic compass always point in a northern direction when placed on the earth?
No. The true north pole and the magnetic north pole are in different locations. The compass will point at the magnetic north pole. If you happened to be somewhere between the two north poles, the compass will point exactly backwards!
What is The discrepancy between the orientation of a compass and true north known as?
the magnetic declination
Does a compass point true north magnetic north or at the north pole?
North Star points at True North, you can use a compass and north star to see how far off magnetic north is from your location. .
What do you mean by true course in navigation?
you can travel Magnetic or true courses ie magnetic north and true north. Magnetic north is by way of compass
How does magnetic field affect a compass?
The earth's magnetic field acts upon the magnetic material of the compass needle, causing it to align to the field. Thus, the compass appears to point North, which is "magnetic north". Magnetic north and "true north" are about 300 miles apart.
What is the name of the difference of true north and magnetic north?
The difference is referred to as magnetic, or compass, declination.
How does earth magnetic field affect a compass?
The earth's magnetic field acts upon the magnetic material of the compass needle, causing it to align to the field. Thus, the compass appears to point North, which is "magnetic north". Magnetic north and "true north" are about 300 miles apart.
Why do orienteering maps have magnetic North Pole instead of the true North Pole?
That is because the map is used with a magnetic compass. Since the needle on the compass points in the direction of magnetic north it is easier to use the map with the compass if the lines drawn on the map indicate magnetic north.
Does a compass point to north?
no It points to magnetic north, which is not exactly the same as true north.
Why does a compass needle line itself up with the magnetic field?
a compass points the magnetic north pole,because the earth is tilted on an axis of 23 degrees, while spinning on this same axis.that is why a compass points to magnetic north and not true north.
Why does the north end of a compass point north?
It doesn't.But let's start with a little background. 'True North' and 'True South' are fixed locations that coincide with the earth's axis of rotation. The earth's magnetic field exists between 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South', so-called to distinguish these locations from 'True North' and 'True South'. The locations of 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South' are always moving relative to the positions of 'True North' and 'True South'.It's important to understand that 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South' are locations, and not the magnetic polarities of these locations!The ends of a compass needle are named after the directions in which they point. Originally, they were called the 'north-seeking pole' and the 'south-seeking pole' respectively, because those are the directions in which they roughly pointed. Actually, they point to Magnetic North and Magnetic South, not True North or True South. By convention, these names (these days, shortened to 'north' and 'south') also define the magnetic polarities of the compass needle.Because 'opposite poles attract', the magnetic polarity of Magnetic North must be a south pole in order to attract the north pole of a compass needle. And, of course, the magnetic polarity of Magnetic South must be a north pole in order to attract the south pole of a compass needle.
Why gyro compass is used in ships instead of magnetic compass?
Because a ship is made of metal, which can affect the accuracy of a standard magnetic compass. Also, a gyrocompass is is better able to point to the true north, which is more accurate to navigation than magnetic North, which is not actually true North. Link below:
A needle on a compass always point to what pole?
The North Pole.Another AnswerA compass needle points to the location called 'Magnetic North', named to distinguish it from 'True North'. Magnetic North is several hundred miles away from True North.
Does the magnetic compass always point in a northern direction when placed on the earth?
No. The true north pole and the magnetic north pole are in different locations. The compass will point at the magnetic north pole. If you happened to be somewhere between the two north poles, the compass will point exactly backwards!
