The Magnetic Compass Card

• A compass card usually has direction pointers consisting of 32 points.

• The four principal, or cardinal, points are north, east, south, and west.
• They are marked N, E, S, and W.
• Between these lie the intercardinal points, such as northeast (NE).
• Further division gives such points as north-northeast (NNE).
• A final division is by points, such as north by east (N by E).
• Naming all the points of a compass in their order is called boxing the
compass.
A compass is an extremely simple device. A magnetic compass (as opposed to a
gyroscopic compass) consists of a small, lightweight magnet balanced on a nearly
frictionless pivot point. The magnet is generally called a needle. One end of the needle is
often marked "N," for north, or colored in some way to indicate that it points toward north. On
the surface, that's all there is to a compass.
The reason why a compass works is more interesting. It turns out that you can think of the
Earth as having a gigantic bar magnet buried inside. In order for the north end of the
compass to point toward the North Pole, you have to assume that the buried bar magnet
has its south end at the North Pole, as shown in the diagram at the right. If you think of the
world this way, then you can see that the normal "opposites attract" rule of magnets would
cause the north end of the compass needle to point toward the south end of the buried bar
magnet. So the compass points toward the North Pole.
To be completely accurate, the bar magnet does not run exactly along the Earth's rotational
axis. It is skewed slightly off center. This skew is called the declination, and most good
maps indicate what the declination is in different areas (since it changes a little depending on
where you are on the planet).
The magnetic field of the Earth is fairly weak on the surface. After all, the planet Earth is
almost 8,000 miles in diameter, so the magnetic field has to travel a long way to affect your
compass. That is why a compass needs to have a lightweight magnet and a frictionless
bearing. Otherwise, there just isn't enough strength in the Earth's magnetic field to turn the
needle.

The "big bar magnet buried in the core" analogy works to explain why the Earth has a
magnetic field, but obviously that is not what is really happening. So what is really
happening?
No one knows for sure, but there is a working theory currently making the rounds. As seen
on the above, the Earth's core is thought to consist largely of molten iron (red). But at the
very core, the pressure is so great that this superhot iron crystallizes into a solid. Convection
caused by heat radiating from the core, along with the rotation of the Earth, causes the
liquid iron to move in a rotational pattern. It is believed that these rotational forces in the
liquid iron layer lead to weak magnetic forces around the axis of spin.
It turns out that because the Earth's magnetic field is so weak, a compass is nothing but a
detector for very slight magnetic fields created by anything. That is why we can use a
compass to detect the small magnetic field produced by a wire carrying a current (see How
Electromagnets Work).
Now let's look at how you can create your own compass.
Gyrocompass:

The gyrocompass receives its directional information from a rapidly spinning gyroscope
driven by electric motors. Its directive action is based on the mechanical laws governing
the dynamics of rotating bodies. When any object is spinning it tends to keep its axis
pointed in the same direction, and if a force is applied to deflect its orientation it responds
by moving at right angles to the applied force. The gyrocompass consists of a gimbal-
mounted spinning gyroscope made north-seeking by placing a weight below the axis. As
the Earth rotates gravitational pull on the weight attempts to change the gyroscope's axis
of rotation. The resulting motion of the axis of the gyroscope at right-angles to the
applied force causes it to move so as to align itself with the Earth's axis of rotation. A few
hours of operation is usually sufficient to align the gyrocompass with the Earth's axis.
Errors that would be introduced by changing latitudes as when the submarine is steaming
towards the north or south are eliminated through periodic adjustments to compensating
systems within the gyrocompass by the Navigator. An electrical servo mechanism and
dial mechanically connected to the gyrocompass has the points of the mariner's compass
marked on it and indicates the submarine's true course. Repeaters connected to the servo
mechanism are located throughout the submarine to provide true course information
where needed.

Precession
If you have ever played with toy gyroscopes, you know that they can perform all sorts of
interesting tricks. They can balance on string or a finger; they can resist motion about the
spin axis in very odd ways; but the most interesting effect is called precession. This is the
gravity-defying part of a gyroscope. The following video shows you the effects of precession
using a bicycle wheel as a gyro

This mysterious effect is precession. In the general case, precession works like this: If you
have a spinning gyroscope and you try to rotate its spin axis, the gyroscope will instead try to
rotate about an axis at right angles to your force axis, like this:
 In figure 1, the gyroscope is spinning on its axis.
In figure 2, a force is applied to try to rotate the spin axis.
In figure 3, the gyroscope is reacting to the input force along an
axis perpendicular to the input force

The Cause of Precession

Why should a gyroscope display this behavior? It seems totally nonsensical that the bicycle
wheel's axle can hang in the air like that. If you think about what is actually happening to the
different sections of the gyroscope as it rotates, however, you can see that this behavior is
completely normal!
Let's look at two small sections of the gyroscope as it is rotating -- the top and the bottom,
like this:

As forces are applied to the axle, the two points identified will
attempt to move in the indicated directions.
When the force is applied to the axle, the section at the top of the gyroscope will try to move
to the left, and the section at the bottom of the gyroscope will try to move to the right, as
shown. If the gyroscope is not spinning, then the wheel flops over, as shown in the video on
the previous page. If the gyroscope is spinning, think about what happens to these two
sections of the gyroscope: Newton's first law of motion states that a body in motion
continues to move at a constant speed along a straight line unless acted upon by an
unbalanced force. So the top point on the gyroscope is acted on by the force applied to the
axle and begins to move toward the left. It continues trying to move leftward because of
Newton's first law of motion, but the gyro's spinning rotates it, like this:

As the two points rotate, they continue their motion.

This effect is the cause of precession. The different sections of the gyroscope receive forces
at one point but then rotate to new positions! When the section at the top of the gyro rotates
90 degrees to the side, it continues in its desire to move to the left. The same holds true for
the section at the bottom -- it rotates 90 degrees to the side and it continues in its desire to
move to the right. These forces rotate the wheel in the precession direction. As the identified
points continue to rotate 90 more degrees, their original motions are cancelled. So the
gyroscope's axle hangs in the air and precesses. When you look at it this way you can see
that precession isn't mysterious at all -- it is totally in keeping with the laws of physics!

Uses of Gyroscopes
The effect of all this is that, once you spin a gyroscope, its axle wants to keep pointing in the
same direction. If you mount the gyroscope in a set of gimbals so that it can continue
pointing in the same direction, it will. This is the basis of the gyro-compass.
If you mount two gyroscopes with their axles at right angles to one another on a platform,
and place the platform inside a set of gimbals, the platform will remain completely rigid as the
gimbals rotate in any way they please. This is this basis of inertial navigation systems
(INS).
In an INS, sensors on the gimbals' axles detect when the platform rotates. The INS uses
those signals to understand the vehicle's rotations relative to the platform. If you add to the
platform a set of three sensitive accelerometers, you can tell exactly where the vehicle is
heading and how its motion is changing in all three directions. With this information, an
airplane's autopilot can keep the plane on course, and a rocket's guidance system can insert
the rocket into a desired orbit!

Substances which can be induced to become magnetized in a magnetic field are called
ferromagnetic. Soft ferromagnetic materials become demagnetized spontaneously
when removed from a magnetic field. Hard ferromagnetic materials can retain their
magnetism, making them useful in the production of permanent magnets.

A compass is a magnet which can align itself within the earth's magnetic field.

A magnet contains a north-seeking pole (north pole) and a south-seeking pole (south
pole). (The possibility of having a single monopole is being investigated.)

Similar magnetic poles repel. Opposite magnetic poles attract. (Law of Magnetic Poles)

A magnetic field is a region in space where a magnetic force can be detected.

The magnetic field is strongest at the poles of a magnet.

Magnetic lines of force are a way of representing a magnetic field.

By convention, magnetic lines of force point from north to south outside a magnet (and
from south to north inside a magnet).

Magnetic lines of force form complete loops. They never cross.

The magnetic poles of the earth are not located at the geographic poles. The angle
between the geographic North Pole and the magnetic "north" pole is called the magnetic
declination.

The angle of declination depends on one's location on earth.

The earth's magnetic field does not run parallel to the earth's surface. The angle of
magnetic dip is the measure from the horizontal plane to the magnetic lines of force.
This also varies depending on one's position on the surface of the earth.

The angle of magnetic dip is very large in the vicinity of the earth's magnetic poles,
making navigation difficult.

The earth's magnetic field moves very slightly over long periods of time. Plate tectonics
may help to account for this phenomenon.

Ore bodies in the Earth can influence the strength of the Earth's magnetic field.

The units for magnetic field strength are the weber/m2, called the tesla. More familiar
units representing the same thing are N/(A.m)

See also: How to apply the Compass Error

 , and the moon. A much more reliable guide
loated in a bowl of water, the wood will swing

it was discovered that an iron

first crude compass: instead of
underside of a disk called a

poles. Irregular lines of force

where magnetic north and true
Earth. In other areas iron ore
called variation or declination.

Between these lie the

all the points of a compass in

360°); East, 090° ; South, 180° ; and West, 270°.

and has a provision for illuminating the compass face from below. The bowl is filled with a
dead ahead" of the ship. In steering, the helmsman watches the mark for his course on the compass

. It is measured by the angle between compass north and magnetic north. Variation and

dinal points. Then they "swing ship" by pivoting the craft so that the bow points in turn to each of
f the metal in the ship.

m, was developed. Gyrocompasses are often used in modern navigation systems because they can

their accuracy is not affected by rapid alterations of course or speed.

ndicating magnetic compass. Readings from its pickup coil are transmitted to repeaters in other

pass used current generated in a coil revolving in the Earth's magnetic field.

the sun compass, which utilizes the shadow of a pin.

magnetic compass needle when a ship passes over them. The areas of disturbance are usually small
d by the magnetic ores. However, the magnetic force will seldom be strong enough to deflect the
eflection of the needle to occur.

may be expected when very close to such wrecks, it is unlikely that deflections in excess of 7° will

and the angle the cable makes with the magnetic meridian. Small vessels with an auto-pilot

tmosphere. Short radio waves which travel round the Earth by being reflected from a higher layer
gly from the base of the lower layer of ionisation. Since these short range radio fade-outs and long
h the flare, lasting on the average for about 20 minutes.

e sun; it visibly signals its arrival by producing a bright and active aurora. It too causes great
mmunications, which may be a complete 'black-out' in higher latitudes. At this time currents of the
eflect a compass needle noticeably from its normal position. The effects on these so-called
ltaneous deviations of the magnetic compass needle by several degrees are not uncommon in and
out which occurs only on the sunlit side of Earth, the interference with radio communications

B
O
Y' Contents
S
M
A
N
U
A
L
O
F
S
E
A
M
A
N
S
H
I
P
A
N
D
G
U
N
N
E
R
Y

C
O
M
P
A
S
S
I
N
S
T
R
U
C
T
I
O
N

P
A
R
T
I

Q.
W
ha
t
is
a
co
m
pa
ss
ca
rd
?

A.
A
ci
rc
ul
ar
ca
rd
,
by
w
hi
ch
a
sh
ip'
s
co
ur
se
is
de
no
te
d:
it
is
di
vi
de
d
in
to
32
eq
ua
l
pa
rts
,
ca
lle
d
po
in
ts
;
ag
ai
n
di
vi
de
d
in
to
32
eq
ua
l
pa
rts
,
ca
lle
d
ha
lf-
po
in
ts
;
an
d
ag
ai
n
di
vi
de
d
in
to
64
eq
ua
l
pa
rts
,
ca
lle
d
qu
ar
te
r-
po
in
ts,
ea
ch
po
in
t
be
in
g
di
sti
ng
ui
sh
ed
by
a
let
te
r
or
let
te
rs.

A.
N.
S.
E.
an
d
W
.
st
an
d
fo
r
N
or
th,
S
ou
th,
E
as
t,
an
d
W
es
t;
th
es
e
ar
e
ca
lle
d
th
e
ca
rd
in
al
po
in
ts
;
an
y
tw
o
or
th
re
e
of
th
es
e
let
te
rs,
ad
de
d
to
ge
th
er,
re
pr
es
en
t
th
e
in
te
r
m
ed
iat
e
po
in
ts,
as
in
th
e
fo
ll
o
wi
ng
ex
a
m
pl
e:

R
E
P
E
A
T
T
H
E
C
O
M
P
A
S
S.

N.
St
an
ds
fo
r
N
or
th.

S.
by
W
.,
S
ou
th
by
W
es
t.

N.
by
E.
,
N
or
th
by
E
as
t.

S.
S.
W
.,
S
ou
th
S
ou
th
-
W
es
t.

N.
N.
E.
,
N
or
th
N
or
th
-
E
as
t.

S.
W
.
by
S.
,
S
ou
th
-
W
es
t
by
S
ou
th.

N.
E.
by
N.
,
N
or
th
-
E
as
t
by
N
or
th,

S.
W
.,
S
ou
th
-
W
es
t.

N
.
E.
,
N
or
t-
E
as
t.

S.
W
,
by
W
.,
S
ou
th
-
W
es
t
by
W
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t.
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E.
by
E.
,
N
or
th
-
E
as
t
by
E
as
t.

W
.
S.
W
.,
W
es
t
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ou
th
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W
es
t.

E.
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,
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as
t
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or
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as
t.

W
.
by
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,
W
es
t
by
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ou
th.

E.
by
N.
,
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as
t
by
N
or
th.

W
.,
W
es
t.

E.
,
E
as
t.

W
.
by
N.
W
es
t
by
N
or
th.

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by
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,
E
as
t
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th.

W
.
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.,
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or
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t.

E.
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as
t
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th
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t.

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.
by
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.,
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th
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t
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t

S.
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by
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,
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ou
th
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E
as
t
by
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t.

N.
W
.,
N
or
th
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W
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t.

S.
E.
,
S
ou
th
-
E
as
t.

N.
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.
by
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,
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or
th
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t
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th.
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by
S.
,
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th
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as
t
by
S
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th.

N.
N.
W
.,
N
or
th
N
or
th
-
W
es
t.

S.
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E.
,
S
ou
th
S
ou
th
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t.

N,
by
W
.,
N
or
th
by
W
es
t.

S.
by
E.
S
ou
th
by
E
as
t.

N.
,
N
or
th.

S.
,
S
ou
th.
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ep
ea
t
it
th
e
re
ve
rs
e
w
ay
.

N
or
th.

S.
W
.
by
W
.

E.
S.
E.

N
.
by
W
.

S.
W
.

E.
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S.

N.
N.
W
.

S.
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.
by
S.

E
as
t.

N.
W
.
by
N.

S.
S.
W
.

E.
by
N.

N.
W
.

S.
by
W
.

E.
N.
E.

N.
W
.
by
W
.

S
ou
th.

N.
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by
E.

W
.
N.
W
.

S.
by
E.

N.
E.

W
.
by
N.
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S.
E.

N.
E.
by
N
.

W
es
t.

S.
E.
by
S.

N.
N.
E.

W
.
by
S.

S.
E.

N.
by
E.

W
.
S.
W
.

S.
E,
by
E.

N
or
th.

T
o
a
ns
w
er
O
p
p
os
it
e
P
oi
nt
s,
or
w
h
at
is
ca
ll
ed
B
ox
in
g
th
e
C
o
m
p
as
s.

Q.
W
ha
t
is
th
e
op
po
sit
e
po
in
t.
to
N.
E.
?

A.
S.
W
.

W
it
h
a
ve
ry
lit
tle
att
en
ti
on
to
th
e
qu
es
ti
on
,
th
e
yo
un
g
be
gi
nn
er
wi
ll
be
ab
le
to
an
s
w
er
an
y
op
po
sit
e
po
in
ts
m
os
t
re
ad
il
y,
al
w
ay
s
be
ar
in
g
in
m
in
d
th
at
th
e
let
te
r
N.
is
op
po
sit
e
to
S.
,
an
d
E,
to
W
.,
an
d
re
m
e
m
be
ri
ng
th
at
tw
o
or
th
re
e
of
th
es
e
let
te
rs
ad
de
d
to
ge
th
er
re
pr
es
en
t
all
th
e
po
in
ts
of
th
e
co
m
pa
ss.
F
or
in
st
an
ce
:
E.
N.
E.
is
th
e
op
po
sit
e
po
in
t
to
W
.
S.
W
.|
S.
S.
E.
to
N.
N.
W
.|
N.
E.
by
E.
to
S.
W
.
by
W
.|
N.
W
.
by
N.
to
S.
E.
by
S.
|
N.
E.
by
N.
�
.N
.|
S.
W
.
by
S.
�
S.
|
W
.
�
N.
to
E.
�
S.
|
N.
�
E.
to
S.
�
W
.,
an
d
so
on
,
to
an
y
po
in
t
of
th
e
co
m
pa
ss.

T
H
E
C
O
M
P
A
S
S
M
A
D
E
E
A
S
Y.

C
ar
di
n
al
P
oi
nt
s.

T
he
co
m
pa
ss
is
co
m
po
se
d
of
fo
ur
let
te
rs
on
ly
-
N.
S.
E.
an
d
W
.,
w
hi
ch
re
pr
es
en
t
th
e
fo
ur
ca
rd
in
al
po
in
ts
-
vi
z.,
N
or
th,
M
ou
th,
E
as
t,
an
d
W
es
t.

H
al
f-
C
ar
di
n
al
P
oi
nt
s.

S
o
ca
lle
d
be
ca
us
e
th
ey
co
m
e
ha
lf
w
ay
be
tw
ee
n
tw
o
ca
rd
in
al
po
in
ts
fr
o
m
w
hi
ch
th
ey
de
ri
ve
th
ei
r
na
m
es
.
T
hu
s,
N.
E.
co
m
es
be
tw
ee
n
N
or
th
an
d
E
as
t,
an
d
by
ad
di
ng
th
e
tw
o
let
te
rs
to
ge
th
er,
N.
E.
is
pr
od
uc
ed
;
in
li
ke
m
an
ne
r
th
e
ot
he
r
ha
lf-
ca
rd
in
al
po
in
ts
ar
e
fo
r
m
ed
-
vi
z.,
N.
W
.,
S.
E.
,
an
d
S.
W
.
T
he
re
ar
e
fo
ur
ha
lf-
ca
rd
in
al
po
in
ts.

F
al
se
P
oi
nt
s.

S
o
ca
lle
d
be
ca
us
e
th
ey
bo
rr
o
w
th
ei
r
na
m
es
fr
o
m
th
e
tw
o
po
in
ts
be
tw
ee
n
w
hi
ch
th
ey
co
m
e.
T
hu
s,
N.
N.
E.
co
m
es
be
tw
ee
n
N
or
th
an
d
N.
E.
,
an
d
by
pu
tti
ng
th
es
e
tw
o
po
in
ts
to
ge
th
er,
ta
ki
ng
ca
re
to
pu
t
th
e
let
te
r
of
th
e
ne
ar
es
t
ca
rd
in
al
po
in
t
fir
st,
N.
N.
E.
is
pr
od
uc
ed
;
in
li
ke
m
an
ne
r
ar
e
all
th
e
ot
he
r
fa
ls
e
po
in
ts
fo
r
m
ed
:
th
ey
ar
e
as
fo
ll
o
w
s:
E.
N.
E.
,
E.
S.
E.
,
S.
S.
E.
,
S.
S.
W
.,
W
.S
.
W
.,
W
.N
.
W
.,
an
d
N.
N.
W
.
T
he
re
ar
e
ei
gh
t
fa
ls
e
po
in
ts.

T
he
B
y-
P
oi
nt
s.

S
o
ca
lle
d
be
ca
us
e
th
ey
de
ri
ve
th
ei
r
na
m
es
fr
o
m
th
e
ne
ar
es
t
ca
rd
in
al
or
ha
lf-
ca
rd
in
al
po
in
ts
th
ey
ar
e
ne
ar
or
by
.
T
hu
s;
N.
by
E.
is
by
or
ne
ar
N
or
th,
an
d
ta
ki
ng
a
di
re
cti
on
to
w
ar
ds
L
as
t
be
co
m
es
N.
by
E.

N.
E.
by
N.
is
by
or
ne
ar
N.
E.
,
bu
t
be
in
g
ne
ar
er
N
or
th
th
an
E
as
t
it
be
co
m
es
N.
E.
by
N.
;
in
li
ke
m
an
ne
r
all
th
e
ot
he
r
by
-
po
in
ts
de
ri
ve
th
ei
r
na
m
e:
th
ey
ar
e
th
e
fo
ll
o
wi
ng
:
N.
E.
by
E.
,
E.
by
N.
,
E,
by
S.
,
S.
E.
by
E.
,
S.
E.
by
S.
,
S.
by
E.
,
S.
by
W
.,
S.
W
.
by
S.
,
S.
W
.
by
W
.,
W
.
by
S.
,
W
.
by
N.
,
N.
W
.
by
W
.,
N.
W
.
by
,
N.
,
an
d
N.
by
W
.-
16
in
nu
m
be
r.

H
al
f-
ca
rd
in
al
po
in
ts
ar
e
al
w
ay
s
fo
ur
po
in
ts
fr
o
m
a
ca
rd
in
al
po
in
t;
if
a
sh
ip'
s
he
ad
m
ar
ks
a
ca
rd
in
al
po
in
t,
su
ch
,
fo
r
in
st
an
ce
,
as
N
or
th,
he
r
st
er
n
an
d
eit
he
r
be
a
m
wi
ll
al
so
m
ar
k
a
ca
rd
in
al
po
in
t:
ha
lf-
ca
rd
in
al
po
in
ts
m
ar
ki
ng
th
e
tw
o
bo
w
s
an
d
qu
ar
te
rs:

F
or
E
xa
m
pl
e.

S
hi
p'
s
he
ad
is
N
or
th,
or
st
er
n
is
S
ou
th,
po
rt-
be
a
m
W
es
t,
st
ar
bo
ar
d-
be
a
m
E
as
t,
po
rt-
bo
w
N.
W
.,
st
ar
bo
ar
d
bo
w
N.
E.
,
po
rt
qu
ar
te
r
S.
W
.,
st
ar
bo
ar
d
qu
ar
te
r
S.
E.

P
A
R
T
II.

Q.
H
o
w
ar
e
th
e
po
in
ts
of
th
e
co
m
pa
ss
re
ck
on
ed
?

A.
Fr
o
m
N
or
th
an
d
S
ou
th,
to
E
as
t
an
d
W
es
t.

N.
by
E.
|
N.
by
W
.|
S.
by
E.
|
S.
by
W
.
�
�
�
�
...
O
ne
po
in
t.

N.
N.
E.
|
N.
N.
W
.|
S.
S.
E.
|
S.
S.
W
....
....
�
�
�
T
w
o
po
in
ts.

N.
E.
by
N.
|
N.
W
.
by
N.
|
S.
E.
by
S.
|
S.
W
.
by
S.
T
hr
ee
po
in
ts

N.
E.
|
N.
W
.|
S.
E.
|
S.
W
....
....
....
�
�
�
�
F
ou
r
po
in
ts.

N.
E.
by
E.
|
N.
W
.
by
W
.|
S.
E.
by
E.
|
S.
W
.
by
W
....
Fi
ve
po
in
ts

E.
N.
E.
|
W
.
N.
W
.|
E.
S.
E.
|
W
.
S.
W
....
.
�
�
�
�
Si
x
po
in
ts.

E.
by
N.
|
W
.
by
N.
|
E.
by
S.
|
W
.
by
S.
....
.
�
�
�
Se
ve
n
po
in
ts.

E
as
t
an
d
W
es
t
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
..
Ei
gh
t
po
in
ts.

Q.
H
o
w
cl
os
e
to
th
e
wi
nd
wi
ll
a
sh
ip
la
y?

A.
W
he
n
th
e
sa
ils
ar
e
w
ell
se
t,
a
sh
ip
is
su
pp
os
ed
to
la
y
fi
ve
po
in
ts
fr
o
m
th
e
wi
nd
,
bu
t
in
m
os
t
ca
se
s
it
is
si
x
po
in
ts.

Q.
S
up
po
si
ng
a
sh
ip
to
la
y
fi
ve
po
in
ts
fr
o
m
th
e
wi
nd
,
ho
w
m
an
y
wi
ll
sh
e
ta
ck
in
?

A.
T
en
po
in
ts.

Q.
H
o
w
m
an
y
wi
ll
sh
e
w
ea
r
in
?

A.
T
w
en
ty
-
tw
o
po
in
ts.

Q.
W
ha
t
do
yo
u
m
ea
n
by
ta
ck
in
g
a
sh
ip
?

A.
S
up
po
si
ng
a
sh
ip
to
be
sa
ili
ng
cl
os
e
to
th
e
wi
nd
on
th
e
st
ar
bo
ar
d
ta
ck
,
la
yi
ng
S.
E.
by
E.
,
th
e
wi
nd
w
ou
ld
he
S
ou
th.
B
y
m
an
oe
uv
ri
ng
th
e
he
l
m
an
d
sa
ils
,
sh
e
is
br
ou
gh
t
he
ad
to
wi
nd
,
an
d
pa
id
of
f
on
th
e
po
rt
ta
ck
,
un
til
th
e
sa
ils
ar
e
ag
ai
n
fu
ll,
or
he
r
he
ad
is
S.
W
.
by
W
.;
sh
e
w
ou
ld
th
en
lie
on
th
e
po
rt
ta
ck
,
su
pp
os
in
g
th
e
wi
nd
to
be
st
ea
dy
,
an
d
th
e
sh
ip
w
ou
ld
w
or
k
in
te
n
po
in
ts
or
lie
fi
ve
po
in
ts
fr
o
m
th
e
wi
nd
.

Q.
W
ha
t
is
th
e
m
ea
ni
ng
of
a
sh
ip
be
in
g
on
th
e
po
rt
or
st
ar
bo
ar
d
ta
ck
?

A.
It
is
sa
id
a
sh
ip
is
on
th
e
po
rt
ta
ck
w
he
n
sh
e
ha
s
he
r
po
rt
ta
ck
s
on
bo
ar
d,
or
th
e
wi
nd
is
bl
o
wi
ng
fi
ve
po
in
ts
on
th
e
po
rt
bo
w,
w
hi
ch
is
ca
lle
d
th
e
w
ea
th
er
bo
w.

Q.
W
ha
t
do
yo
u
m
ea
n
by
th
e
w
ea
th
er
an
d
le
e
bo
w,
an
d
ho
w
ar
e
th
ey
di
sti
ng
ui
sh
ed
?

A.
T
he
w
ea
th
er
bo
w
or
si
de
of
a
sh
ip
is
th
e
si
de
on
w
hi
ch
th
e
wi
nd
bl
o
w
s.
T
he
le
e
bo
w
or
si
de
wi
ll,
of
co
ur
se
,
be
th
e
op
po
sit
e
to
th
at
fr
o
m
w
hi
ch
th
e
wi
nd
bl
o
w
s.
T
he
sh
ee
ts
of
fo
re
an
d
af
t
sa
ils
ar
e
ha
ul
ed
af
t
on
th
e
le
e
si
de
.

Q.
W
ha
t
is
th
e
m
ea
ni
ng
of
w
ea
ri
ng
a
sh
ip
?

A.
T
o
ru
n
he
r
of
f
be
fo
re
th
e
wi
nd
,
an
d
br
in
g
he
r
to
th
e
wi
nd
on
th
e
ot
he
r
ta
ck
.

Q.
W
ha
t
do
yo
u
m
ea
n
by
st
ee
ri
ng
a
sh
ip
?

A.
T
o
m
ov
e
he
r
he
ad
in
an
y
pa
rti
cu
la
r
di
re
cti
on
,
or
ke
ep
he
r
on
an
y
gi
ve
n
co
ur
se
.

Q.
H
o
w
is
a
sh
ip'
s
he
ad
m
ov
ed
or
ke
pt
in
an
y
pa
rti
cu
la
r
di
re
cti
on
?

A.
B
y
m
ea
ns
of
th
e
he
l
m,
w
hi
ch
is
co
m
po
se
d
of
th
e
ru
dd
er,
til
le
r,
or
yo
ke
,
til
le
r
ro
pe
s,
an
d
w
he
el.

Al
l
sh
ip
s
ar
e
fit
te
d
wi
th
til
le
rs,
wi
th
th
e
ex
ce
pt
io
n
of
sc
re
w
sh
ip
s,
w
hi
ch
ar
e,
ac
co
rd
in
g
to
th
e
sp
ac
e
ab
af
t
th
e
sc
re
w
ch
a
m
be
r,
fit
te
d
eit
he
r
wi
th
a
til
le
r
or
yo
ke
.
A
si
ng
le
bl
oc
k
is
se
iz
ed
on
th
e
fo
re
m
os
t
en
d
of
th
e
til
le
r,
w
he
n
sh
ip
pe
d
be
fo
re
th
e
ru
dd
er
he
ad
,
an
d
on
th
e
af
te
r
en
d
of
th
e
til
le
r
w
he
n
sh
ip
pe
d
ab
af
t
th
e
ru
dd
er
he
ad
;
yo
ke
s
ha
ve
ge
ne
ra
ll
y
tw
o
m
et
al
sh
ea
ve
s
fit
te
d
at
ea
ch
en
d.

Ti
lle
r
ro
pe
s
ar
e
ro
ve
th
e
sa
m
e
w
ay
in
all
sh
ip
s,
w
he
th
er
fit
te
d
wi
th
a
til
le
r
or
yo
ke
,
so
th
e
m
ov
e
m
en
t
of
th
e
w
he
el
wi
ll
be
ali
ke
in
all
sh
ip
s.
Q.
H
o
w
do
yo
u
kn
o
w
in
w
ha
t
di
re
cti
on
a
sh
ip
is
st
ee
ri
ng
?

A,
B
y
m
ea
ns
of
lu
bb
er'
s
po
in
t
an
d
th
e
co
m
pa
ss
ca
rd
.

Q.
W
ha
t
is
lu
bb
er'
s
po
in
t?

A.
A
bl
ac
k
li
ne
dr
a
w
n
do
w
n
th
e
ce
nt
re
of
th
e
m
et
al
bo
wl
in
w
hi
ch
th
e
co
m
pa
ss
ca
rd
is
sh
ip
pe
d,
in
a
di
re
ct
li
ne
wi
th
th
e
sh
ip'
s
he
ad
,
an
d
as
th
e
sh
ip'
s
he
ad
m
ov
es
to
th
e
ri
gh
t
or
th
e
le
ft,
th
e
co
m
pa
ss
ca
rd
re
vo
lv
es
pa
st
th
e
li
ne
ca
lle
d
lu
bb
er'
s
po
in
t,
w
ha
te
ve
r
po
in
t
of
th
e
co
m
pa
ss
cu
ts
th
is
li
ne
,
de
no
te
s
th
e
co
ur
se
th
e
sh
ip
is
st
ee
ri
ng
.

Q.
W
ha
t
is
th
e
m
ea
ni
ng
of
lu
ff,
or
gi
vi
ng
a
sh
ip
le
e
he
l
m,
or
pu
tti
ng
th
e
he
l
m
do
w
n?

A.
T
o
br
in
g
th
e
sh
ip'
s
he
ad
ne
ar
er
th
e
wi
nd
.

Q.
W
ha
t
is
th
e
m
ea
ni
ng
of
"
ke
ep
he
r
a
w
ay
,"
or
"g
iv
e
he
r
w
ea
th
er
he
l
m,
"
or
"
pu
tti
ng
th
e
he
l
m
up
"
?

A.
T
o
ru
n
th
e
sh
ip'
s
he
ad
of
f
th
e
wi
nd
.

Q.
W
ha
t
is
th
e
m
ea
ni
ng
of
"
ve
ry
w
ell
th
us
,"
"
th
us
an
d
no
hi
gh
er
"?

A.
H
er
he
ad
is
in
a
ve
ry
go
od
di
re
cti
on
,
bu
t
yo
u
ar
e
no
t
to
br
in
g
he
r
an
y
cl
os
er
th
e
wi
nd
.

P
A
R
T
II
I.

Q.
W
ha
t
is
th
e
m
ea
ni
ng
of
"
no
th
in
g
of
f"
?

A.
T
o
ke
ep
th
e
sh
ip'
s
he
ad
as
cl
os
e
to
th
e
wi
nd
as
po
ss
ib
le
wi
th
ou
t
sh
ak
in
g
th
e
sa
il.

Q.
If
a
sh
ip'
s
he
ad
is
S.
E.
,
an
d
sh
e
is
on
th
e
st
ar
bo
ar
d
ta
ck
,
la
yi
ng
fi
ve
po
in
ts
fr
o
m
th
e
wi
nd
,
ho
w
is
th
e
wi
nd
?

A.
S.
by
W
.

Q.
If
sh
e
w
as
on
th
e
po
rt
ta
ck
,
ho
w
w
ou
ld
th
e
wi
nd
be
?

A.
E.
by
N.

Q.
If
he
r
he
ad
is
E
as
t,
an
d
sh
e
is
on
th
e
po
rt
ta
ck
,
ho
w
is
th
e
wi
nd
?

A.
N.
E.
by
N.

Q.
If
sh
e
w
as
on
th
e
st
ar
bo
ar
d
ta
ck
wi
th
he
r
he
ad
E
as
t?

A.
S.
E.
by
S.

Q.
If
he
r
he
ad
w
as
W
.S
.
W
.
on
th
e
po
rt
ta
ck
,
an
d
th
e
sh
ip
w
as
cl
os
e
to
th
e
wi
nd
,
w
hi
ch
w
ou
ld
be
S.
by
W
.,
an
d
yo
u
w
er
e
on
th
e
lo
ok
ou
t
at
th
e
m
as
th
ea
d,
an
d
sa
w
a
sh
ip
be
ar
in
g
W
es
t,
or
on
an
y
of
th
e
fo
ll
o
wi
ng
be
ar
in
gs
,
ho
w
w
ou
ld
yo
u
re
po
rt
he
r?

A.
If
be
ar
in
g
W
.,
tw
o.
po
in
ts
on
th
e
le
e
bo
w.

If
sh
e
bo
re
W
.N
.
W
.,
fo
ur
po
in
ts
on
th
e
le
e
bo
w.

If
sh
e
bo
re
S.
S.
E.
,
on
th
e
w
ea
th
er
be
a
m.

If
sh
e
bo
re
N.
E.
,
on
th
e
le
e
qu
ar
te
r.

If
sh
e
bo
re
E.
N.
E.
,
ri
gh
t
as
te
rn
.

If
sh
e
bo
re
S.
E.
,
tw
o
po
in
ts
ab
af
t
th
e
w
ea
th
er
be
a
m.

If
sh
e
bo
re
S.
S.
W
.,
fo
ur
po
in
ts
on
th
e
w
ea
th
er
bo
w.

Q.
W
ha
t
do
yo
u
ca
ll
ri
gh
t
ab
ea
m
?

A.
Ei
gh
t
po
in
ts
fr
o
m
ri
gh
t
ah
ea
d;
fo
r
in
st
an
ce
,
if
a
sh
ip'
s
he
ad
is
N
or
th,
E
as
t
an
d
W
es
t
is
ri
gh
t
ab
ea
m.

Q.
If
a
sh
ip
is
ly
in
g
N.
W
.
on
th
e
st
ar
bo
ar
d
ta
ck
,
an
d
yo
u
ar
e
or
de
re
d
to
ke
ep
he
r
a
w
ay
fo
ur
po
in
ts,
ho
w
wi
ll
he
r
he
ad
be
w
he
n
ke
pt
a
w
ay
as
or
de
re
d?

A.
W
es
t.

Q.
S
up
po
si
ng
a
sh
ip
is
st
ee
ri
ng
W
es
t,
or
an
y
of
th
e
fo
ll
o
wi
ng
co
ur
se
s:
N.
W
.|
E.
N.
E.
|
S.
S.
E.
|
N.
E.
by
N.
|
S.
by
W
.
�
W
.|
E.
�
N.
|
W
.
�
S.
,
ho
w
m
an
y
po
in
ts
is
sh
e
st
ee
ri
ng
fr
o
m
N
or
th
or
S
ou
th
?

A.
If
W
.,
8
po
in
ts
|
N.
W
.,
4
po
in
ts
|
E.
N.
E.
,6
po
in
ts
|
S.
S.
E.
,2
po
in
ts
|
N.
E.
by
N.
,3
po
in
ts
|
S,
by
W
.
�
W
.,
1
�
po
in
ts
|
E.
�
N.
,
7
�
po
in
ts
|
W
.
�
S.
,
7
�
po
in
ts.

Q.
Y
ou
sa
y
a
sh
ip'
s
co
ur
se
is
de
no
te
d
in
an
y
di
re
cti
on
sh
e
m
ay
be
st
ee
re
d
by
th
e
co
m
pa
ss,
w
hi
ch
is
a
ci
rc
ul
ar
ca
rd
:
ex
pl
ai
n
ho
w
th
is
is
do
ne
?

A.
A
co
m
pa
ss
ca
rd
,
m
ou
nt
ed
on
a
m
ag
ne
tic
ba
r
of
st
ee
l,
af
te
r
be
in
g
pr
op
er
ly
ad
ju
st
ed
,
is
pl
ac
ed
on
a
pi
vo
t
in
th
e
ce
nt
re
of
a
m
et
al
bo
wl
,
th
e
in
si
de
of
w
hi
ch
is
pa
in
te
d
w
hi
te,
a
bl
ac
k
li
ne
be
in
g
m
ar
ke
d
do
w
n
fr
o
m
to
p
to
bo
tt
o
m
of
th
e
bo
wl
:
an
d
ex
ac
tl
y
in
th
e
li
ne
of
th
e
sh
ip'
s
he
ad
or
bo
w
s,
w
hi
ch
is
ca
lle
d
th
e
lu
bb
er'
s
po
in
ts
;
th
e
ca
rd
is
su
pp
os
ed
,
w
he
n
'o
n
th
e
pi
vo
t,
to
po
in
t
to
th
e
m
ag
ne
tic
N
or
th
an
d
S
ou
th,
wi
th
ou
t
it
is
att
ra
ct
ed
by
an
y
lo
ca
l
ca
us
e,
w
hi
ch
is
ca
lle
d
de
vi
ati
on
.
T
he
bo
wl
co
nt
ai
ni
ng
th
e
co
m
pa
ss
is
hu
ng
on
ji
m
bl
es
,
in
a
w
oo
de
n
fr
a
m
e
ca
lle
d
bi
nn
ac
le
;
an
d
by
m
ov
in
g
th
e
ru
dd
er
by
m
ea
ns
of
th
e
til
le
r
or
w
he
el,
a
sh
ip'
s
he
ad
is
pu
t
in
an
y
di
re
cti
on
de
sir
ed
.

T
E
C
H
N
I
C
A
L
T
E
R
M
S
U
S
E
D
B
Y
T
H
E
O
F
FI
C
E
R
O
R
Q
U
A
R
T
E
R
M
A
S
T
E
R
O
F
T
H
E
W
A
T
C
H
I
N
D
I
R
E
C
T
 I
N
G
T
H
E
C
O
N
N
I
N
G
O
F
T
H
E
S
H
IP
.

C
o
n
ni
n
g.

A
ny
pe
rs
on
di
re
cti
ng
th
e
pe
rs
on
di
re
cti
ng
th
e
he
l
m
s
m
an
ho
w
to
pu
t
th
e
he
l
m,
is
sa
id
to
be
co
nn
in
g
th
e
sh
ip.

St
ar
b
o
ar
d
T
ac
k.
A
sh
ip
sa
ili
ng
wi
th
th
e
wi
nd
bl
o
wi
ng
ag
ai
ns
t
th
e
st
ar
bo
ar
d
si
de
,
wi
th
he
r
st
ar
bo
ar
d
ta
ck
s
ha
ul
ed
on
bo
ar
d,
an
d
he
r
po
rt
sh
ee
ts
ha
ul
ed
af
t,
is
sa
id
to
be
on
th
e
st
ar
bo
ar
d
ta
ck
.

P
or
t
T
ac
k.

E
ve
ry
th
in
g
be
in
g
th
e
ex
ac
t
op
po
sit
e
to
th
e
st
ar
bo
ar
d
ta
ck
.

T
ac
ki
n
g.
St
ay
in
g.
G
oi
n
g
A
b
o
ut
 .

Is
an
ev
ol
ut
io
n
pe
rf
or
m
ed
by
m
an
oe
uv
ri
ng
th
e
sa
ils
an
d
he
l
m,
by
w
hi
ch
m
ea
ns
a
sh
ip
is
m
ad
e
to
pa
ss
ro
un
d
he
ad
to
wi
nd
fr
o
m
on
e
ta
ck
to
th
e
ot
he
r.

W
or
ki
n
g
or
B
ea
ti
n
g
to
W
in
d
w
ar
d.
T
ac
k
 a
n
d
H
al
f-
T
ac
k.
M
ak
in
g
a
L
o
n
g
a
n
d
S
h
or
t
B
o
ar
d.
M
ak
in
g
a
L
o
n
g
a
n
d
S
h
or
t
L
eg
.

Si
gn
ifi
es
a
ve
ss
el
pr
oc
ee
di
ng
as
ne
ar
ly
as
po
ss
ib
le
in
th
e
di
re
cti
on
fr
o
m
w
hi
ch
th
e
wi
nd
bl
o
w
s
by
co
ns
ta
nt
ly
ta
ck
in
g.

O
n
a
W
in
d.
B
y
a
W
in
d.
Cl
os
e
H
a
ul
ed
.
F
ul
l
a
n
d
B
y.
O
n
a
B
 o
wl
in
e.

Tr
i
m
m
in
g
th
e
sa
ils
wi
th
th
e
ya
rd
s
br
ac
ed
up
sh
ar
p,
an
d
th
e
bo
wl
in
es
ha
ul
ed
,
to
en
ab
le
th
e
sh
ip
to
sa
il
as
cl
os
e
th
e
wi
nd
as
po
ss
ib
le.

H
a
ul
in
g
to
th
e
W
in
d.

Br
in
gi
ng
a
sh
ip'
s
he
ad
as
cl
os
e
to
th
e
wi
nd
as
po
ss
ib
le,
by
br
ac
in
g
th
e
ya
rd
s
up
,
&
c.,
an
d
gi
vi
ng
he
r
le
e
he
l
m.

L
uf
f.
G
iv
e
he
r
L
ee
H
el
m
.
P
ut
th
e
H
el
m
d
o
w
n.

T
o
br
in
g
a
sh
ip'
s
he
ad
cl
os
e
to
th
e
wi
nd
.

[I
su
sp
ec
 t
th
at
2
p
ag
es
m
ay
be
m
is
si
n
g
he
re
ie
p
p
20
7
-
20
8]

P
or
t
th
e
H
el
m
.

If
st
an
di
ng
th
e
po
rt
si
de
of
th
e
w
he
el,
tu
rn
it
fr
o
m
yo
u,
if
on
th
e
st
ar
bo
ar
d
si
de
,
pu
ll
it
to
w
ar
ds
yo
u,
th
e
til
le
r
go
in
g
to
po
rt,
th
e
ru
dd
er
to
st
ar
bo
ar
d,
a
sh
ip
wi
th
he
ad
w
ay
wi
ll
pa
y
of
f
to
st
ar
bo
ar
d.

A
sh
ip
ha
vi
ng
st
er
n
w
ay
th
e
he
l
m
ha
s
th
e
op
po
sit
e
ef
fe
ct
to
he
ad
w
ay
;
th
er
ef
or
e
he
r
he
ad
pa
ys
of
f
in
th
e
sa
m
e
di
re
cti
on
as
th
e
til
le
r,
an
d
a
co
nt
ra
ry
di
re
cti
on
to
th
at
in
w
hi
ch
th
e
ru
dd
er
is
pl
ac
ed
.

Ri
g
ht
th
e
H
el
m
.
P
ut
th
e
H
el
m
A
m
id
sh
ip
s.

Is
an
or
de
r
gi
ve
n
w
he
n
th
e
he
l
m
is
eit
he
r
to
st
ar
bo
ar
d
or
po
rt,
an
d
th
e
ru
dd
er
is
re
qu
ir
ed
at
on
ce
to
be
pl
ac
ed
in
a
li
ne
wi
th
th
e
sh
ip'
s
ke
el.

^
ba
ck
to
to
p
^
Standard and Steering Compasses Compasses The Chief of Naval Operations
requires that each self-propelled ship and are service craft of the United States Navy be equipped
with one or more REQUIRED magnetic compasses suitable for navigation. Except for modern
nuclear-powered submarines, all ships and craft, regardless of size or classification, must have a
magnetic steering compass at the primary steering station. Steering Compass Many ships carry more
than one magnetic compass. The primary magnetic compass is called the steering compass. It is
normally located on the centerline in the ship’s pilothouse (except aboard aircraft carriers), where it
can best be seen by the helmsman. The readings from the steering compass are labeled "per
steering compass" (PSTGC). Standard Compass If a ship has two magnetic compasses, the
second compass is called the standard compass. The ship’s standard compass is normally located
on the ship’s centerline at the secondary conning station. The readings from the standard compass
are expressed as "per standard compass" (PSC). Note The readings from the ship’s gyrocompass
are "per gyrocompass" (PGC). Courses and bearings by these compasses must be carefully
differentiated by the abbreviations. Cautions A magnetic compass cannot be expected to give
reliable service unless it is properly installed and protected from disturbing magnetic influences.
Certain precautions must be observed in the vicinity of the magnetic compass. If possible, a
compass should not be placed near iron or steel equipment that will be moved frequently. Thus, a
location near a gun, boat davit, or boat crane is not desirable. The immediate vicinity should be
kept free of sources of magnetism, particularly those of a changing nature. When possible, no
source of magnetism should be permitted within a radius of several feet of the magnetic compass.
2-6

Up Up Next
Quartermaster 3 & 2 - Military Quartermaster 3 & 2 - Military manual for the Magnetic Compass
manual for the Quartermaster rate Quartermaster rate Operation and
Next Components,
Magnetic Compass ErrorBack Continued
Standard and Steering Compasses

Magnetic Compass Operation and Components, Continued

Components The following illustrations should help you visualize the working parts of a basic
magnetic compass. Figure 2-7. Parts of a magnetic compass. 2-8

(navigation) A compass by which a craft is steered; it sometimes refers to a gyro repeater,

which is used for the same purpose as the steering compass; the term steering repeater is
preferable

navigation) A magnetic compass in which the image of the compass card is viewed by
direct reflection in a mirror adjacent to the helmsman's position.
Magnetic Compass Operation and Components Operation The
operation of a magnetic compass is very simple and can be stated as follows: "A small bar magnet
freely suspended in the magnetic field of Earth will always align itself parallel to the lines
of force of that field and thus will establish a direction." Components Use the following table,
figure 2-6, and figure 2-7 to learn the parts of a magnetic compass. Part Card Bowl Magnets
Gimbals Binnacle Function The card is an aluminum disk graduated in degrees from 0 to 359. It
has a jeweled bearing that rides on a hard, sharp pivot point. The card is supported by the bowl.
A lubbers line is marked on the bowl and is used as visible index. The bowl is filled with Varsol
to dampen overswings by the card. An expansion bellows in the lower bowl serves to allow
expansion of the liquid with temperature changes. Several bar magnets are used to correct and
align the compass. The bowl has two pivots that rest in a metal ring, which also has two pivots
resting in the binnacle. This arrangement (gimbals) permits the compass to remain level despite the
motion of the ship. The binnacle serves as a housing for the compass. It is made of a non- magnetic
material. It also serves as a housing for the compasses correctors: magnets, flinders bar, and quadrantal
spheres. A lighting system is normally Figure 2-6. Compass binnacle installed. 2-7

Back
Magnetic Compass Operation and Components