How is compass used for finding directions at unknown places?

Answer 1

It is basically a magnet and it will point to the magnetic pole (north) The compass is magnetized and the poles of the earth emit magnetic waves what attrach the needle in the compass to point away from South and towards North

Answer 2

Magnetic compasses utilize Earth's natural electromagnetic field to orient the needle towards the Earth's poles. Gyrocompasses are a newer invention and are able to detect directions based on the Earth's rotation.

Answer 3

The earth has a magnetic field. The compass needle is a magnet. So the field around the needle lines up with the field around the earth, and by the polarization of the magnetic needle, you can tell the direction of magnetic north (which is hundreds of miles from true north). True north and south are the axis of the earth. The magnetic field around earth is what determines what is the north end of the axis and the south end: the magnetic flux comes out of one end and into the other. So the end it comes out of is called north, and the end it gos into is called south. Now, there is a star called the north star, because it is directly above the north pole and in line with the axis: so at night you can site the north mark, or N, on your compass at the north star, and count the degrees or marks on the compass, that are between the north mark; and the way the needle is pointing. This is the number of degrees that magnetic north varies from true north at your present time and location. In the day you can line up the north mark to the needle, then move the north mark the amount of degrees of variance, in the direction of true north, remembering the side the needle was on when you took the measurement, so that the north mark points at true north. The reason true north is important is because all maps are made by true north. And of course, once you get your compass pointed at true north, all the other directions are marked.

So to get your north/south position on the globe. If you stand underneath the north star, then you are standing on the north pole, this is a 90o angle. A tool called a sextant is used for this, but I'll tell you what has to be done. You measure the degree of angle, between the horizon and the north star: this is your position in degrees. Degrees are subdivided into minutes and seconds for more accuracy. If you are wondering how this works, maps are measured in degrees. So the exact degrees minutes seconds you find between the north star and the horizon, you just find the same degrees on the map and that is your north/south position. You can only use the north star in the northern hemisphere though, if you are in the Southern Hemisphere, you have to use a cluster of of southern pole stars, but they are not so close in line with the axis and above the south pole as to take a direct reading, that is if you want to be at least sort of accurate. Also north/south lines are called latitude lines.

Now to measure your east/west position. You need a very good time keeping clock. So where as you know the position of the north star over the earth because it doesn't change, at least not by much; the stars over the equator change position over the earth, because the earth turns. But if you know the orbits, you can tell at what time they will be in what position over the earth. There are books with nothing but positions of stars, and the times of those positions. So after you get a stars future position, you wait for the exact time, then measure the angle of that star to the horizon, do the calculations based on position from star book, and you will have your east/west position. Then you just draw the lines on the map, and where they cross is where you are. Also, east/west lines are called longitude lines. I will say though, that if a land mark, as they're called, where around, you can mark your position off of them; because they are marked globally already.

To be more specific to the question, there is no uncharted place. But say you didn't have a map; you can of course mark and record your own positions with said methods, and find your way back and forth between them, but to get more positions you would have to just set out on an adventure, and mark as you went. But you would only have what you marked. If you wanted to find a town that you have not marked, a compass its self can not get you there.

If you want to learn navigation, you should look up, wilderness navigation and map & compass, should give every thing you need.

Answer 4

The needle of a compass points to Magnetic North.