Overview
This lecture explains how to use bearings in navigation, including key rules for measuring bearings and example problems.
Understanding Bearings
- Bearings are used to describe direction from one point to another in navigation.
- The bearing of point B from point A asks for the direction to travel from A to B.
Rules for Bearings
- Always measure the angle starting from North at the starting point.
- Measure the angle clockwise from the North line.
- Bearings are always written as three-digit numbers (e.g., 065°).
Example Problems
- To find a bearing, draw a North line at the starting point and measure the clockwise angle to the destination.
- If the measured angle is less than 100°, add leading zeroes to make it three digits (e.g., 065°).
- If the measured angle goes beyond a protractor's range, subtract the smaller angle from 360° (e.g., 360° - 50° = 310°).
Exam-Style Question Approach
- When given bearings from two different people to the same location, draw North lines at each person's position.
- Measure and draw the given bearings as dashed lines from each person.
- The intersection of these lines marks the location you are asked to find.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Bearing — The angle measured clockwise from North, used to specify direction.
- Clockwise — The direction the hands of a clock move; always the direction bearings are measured.
- Protractor — A tool for measuring angles, often limited to 180°.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice drawing bearings with a protractor.
- Review any related navigation or geometry homework provided by your teacher.