imtoken官网网站|compass

作者： imtoken官网网站

2024-03-13 01:29:06

You are being redirected...

are being redirected...

Javascript is required. Please enable javascript before you are allowed to see this page.

Online Compass | Shows direction relative to the geographic cardinal directions north, south, east, and west

OnlineCompass

Online CamScanner

Transfer My File

OCR

Online OCR

Txt

Speech to Text

Image Resize

Terms

N 0 °

❤Heart Beat Monitor

Compass

Spirit Level

Inclinometer

Speed

Light Meter

EMF Meter

Enabling Sensors

To enable sensors for chrome, open given link (copy and paste) and make

Generic Sensor Extra Classes to enable and

Generic Sensor feature flag to enable motion sensors on the previous Chrome versions (before Chrome 67).

Restart Chrome and you should be good to go.

Link 1:chrome://flags/#enable-generic-sensor-extra-classes -

Click to Copy

Link 2(Required Only for Old Versions Chrome < 67):chrome://flags/#enable-generic-sensor -

Click to Copy

Figure for Reference:

Compass

A compass is an instrument used for navigation and orientation that shows direction relative to the geographic cardinal directions (or points). Usually, a diagram called a compass rose shows the directions north, south, east, and west on the compass face as abbreviated initials. When the compass is used, the rose can be aligned with the corresponding geographic directions; for example, the 'N' mark on the rose points northward. Compasses often display markings for angles in degrees in addition to (or sometimes instead of) the rose. North corresponds to 0°, and the angles increase clockwise, so east is 90° degrees, south is 180°, and west is 270°. These numbers allow the compass to show magnetic North azimuths or true North azimuths or bearings, which are commonly stated in this notation. If magnetic declination between the magnetic North and true North at latitude angle and longitude angle is known, then direction of magnetic North also gives direction of true North.

Is there a compass on my phone?

Does your Android phone have a magnetometer? Yup, chances are that it does as most Android devices do. Even if you have an old or a cheap phone, there's likely a magnetometer inside of it. And, Our website make use of that magnetometer to display a digital compass on your phone's screen.

Which way is north?

You know the sun rises in the east and sets in the west so when you face towards east your left hand tell you north and on your right side is south.

If you are in the Southern Hemisphere then it will be the other way round.

Liked this Online Compass?Let your friends know about it.

EnglishBahasa IndonesiaBahasa MalaysiaDanskDeutschEspañolFrançaisItalianoNederlandsNorsk (bokmål)PolskiPortuguêsSvenskaTiếng ViệtTürkçeРусскийУкраїнськаالعربيةहिन्दीภาษาไทย한국어日本語简体中文繁體中文

Launch instructions

These tools work with Chrome 63 or later

Please enable sensors

Online Compass - Live and Free Compass to Find North Direction

Blog

Arabic

Bulgarian

Bengali

Catalan

Czech

Danish

German

Greek

English

Spanish

Estonian

Finnish

Filipino

French

Gujarati

Hebrew

Hindi

Croatian

Hungarian

Indonesian

Italian

Japanese

Kannada

Korean

Lithuanian

Latvian

Malayalam

Marathi

Malay

Dutch

Norwegian

Punjabi

Polish

Portuguese

Romanian

Russian

Slovak

Slovenian

Serbian

Swedish

Tamil

Telugu

Thai

Turkish

Ukrainian

Vietnamese

Chinese (simplified)

Chinese (traditional)

Direction:

Latitude:

Need Location Permission

Longitude:

Need Location Permission

Start compass

Location services:

OFF

Need Location Permission

Online Compass - Live and Free Compass to Find North Direction

Get accurate live compass directions in the East, West, North, and South with our free online tool. Navigate effortlessly using our online compass.

How Can I Check My Directions Online?

The quickest way to navigate online is by using an online compass website. Unlike mobile compass apps that require

installation on your phone, online compasses can be utilized without installation and only require an internet

connection. Here's how to use our site's online compass

Geographic Directions on the Compass

On the compass image, the letter "N" represents magnetic north, while "S" stands for magnetic south. "S" indicates

the east direction, and "E" denotes the west direction. Additionally, "NW" signifies northwest, "NE" indicates

northeast, "SW" represents southwest, and "SE" stands for southeast.

Degrees on the Compass

The arrow symbol at the compass's top indicates zero degrees or magnetic north. The degree of difference in your

current direction from magnetic north is displayed in the "Direction" section.

Activating Phone's GPS

To activate your phone's GPS, simply click the "Location services" button. You will receive a request for permission

to access your phone's GPS. If you grant access, you'll not only have access to geographic direction but also

additional information such as longitude and latitude.

Moreover, the compass will display your current location, the times of sunrise and sunset in that area, and the

elevation of your location above sea level in both meters and feet.

Locking the Compass

The compass lock button comes in handy when you're on the move, whether you're in a vehicle or walking. In either

scenario, your mobile phone isn't stationary. By enabling the lock mode, you can freeze the information displayed on

the screen, ensuring that the compass no longer changes direction.

Sharing Information on social media

Another noteworthy feature of our online compass is its ability to display all the compass-related information, such

as geographic direction, longitude, latitude, location, sunrise and sunset times, and altitude. Moreover, you can

easily share the elevation above sea level at your current location.

Please Note: The compass must be locked to share all

information.

Change the color of the compassYou can set the desired color for the compass by clicking on

the color palette.

What is an online compass?

A compass is a longstanding tool used by travelers and those in need of directions. It remains in use today. As we've entered the modern era, connecting everything to the internet has become a necessity, and compasses are no exception. Online compasses, in particular, offer numerous new features compared to their older counterparts, thanks to their internet connectivity and real-time updates. This has contributed to their widespread popularity.

Online compasses, like many other emerging technologies worldwide, are readily accessible. This accessibility is a key factor driving their increasing user base. In today's world, nearly everyone owns a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or smartwatch, all of which can easily host online compass applications. One notable advantage of online compasses over traditional versions is their enhanced accuracy, making them valuable tools on ships and airplanes.

To access online compasses, you can install specialized apps on various smart devices, regardless of their operating system. Alternatively, there are numerous websites offering online compass services that are user-friendly. In some instances, this technology is integrated with GPS technology, significantly enhancing its performance.

What directions can the online compass display?

The primary purpose of any compass is to indicate various directions, with its simplest and most fundamental function being to provide direction. There are numerous compass types globally, each offering varying levels of functionality. Nevertheless, it's safe to say that the fundamental task common to all compasses is to indicate the four cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west, typically represented by the initial letters of their respective English names, namely N, S, E, and W.

That being said, one of the standout features that sets online compasses apart and contributes to their popularity is their capacity to display intermediate directions. These intermediate directions lie between the cardinal points. Each of these sub-directions is denoted by a combination of two initial letters from their corresponding English terms. For instance, northeast is signified by "NE," an abbreviation for "North East." Similarly, northwest, southeast, and southwest are indicated by "NW," "SE," and "SW" respectively. Overall, this capability underscores the high precision of online compasses, making them highly commendable.

How does the online compass work?

Each compass serves a unique function, and one can explain how each type of compass operates. Generally, the most basic operational principle shared by all compasses involves the use of a magnet to indicate different directions through physical movement. Traditional compasses typically feature hands responsible for this task. Some other compass variants, like those found in cars, function in a similar manner. Instead of hands, these compasses employ a magnet to move a ball submerged in a liquid, which in turn determines the direction.

In fact, it can be asserted that the magnetometer represents the most essential component of any compass, and its presence is absolutely vital. However, online compasses differ in that they lack a moving part for the magnetometer to interact with and determine different directions. Consequently, they rely on accelerometer sensors to complete their functionality.

When using your online compass with a mobile phone or any other smart device, you can access additional features by interacting with your device. For instance, tapping the screen of your mobile phone activates compass calibration, enhancing the accuracy of your directional readings. Additionally, some online compasses interface with GPS, allowing you to obtain not only your precise direction but also your geographic coordinates. Finally, once you activate your online compass, your direction will be displayed on the screen of the device housing these compass functions.

How do online compasses compare in accuracy to traditional ones?

Conventional compasses widely used worldwide rely on the Earth's magnetic field for their operation. In contrast, online compasses utilize advanced electronic sensors to achieve the same purpose. As technology progresses, products tend to offer more comprehensive services in various fields. In the case of compasses, online variants significantly outperform their traditional counterparts in terms of accuracy.

The precision of online compasses can be so remarkable that they can indicate your desired direction with an accuracy of just a few tenths of a degree. In contrast, traditional compasses lack such precision. The absence of moving parts in online compasses further enhances their accuracy when compared to traditional models. Over time, the continuous movement of parts in traditional compasses can generate friction, leading to a certain level of wear and a notable decrease in performance accuracy. This necessitates periodic calibration to restore their accuracy.

Advantages of Using a Free Online Compass:

Convenient Accessibility:

Traditional compasses require you to carry them everywhere to use them effectively. However, one of the perks of online compasses is that they are readily available. In today's world, nearly everyone carries their mobile phone at all times, and online compasses are easily accessible through the internet. All you need is an internet connection. Online compasses can be conveniently accessed via various free websites, eliminating the constraints of traditional compasses.

Additional Features:

Another advantage of using online compasses lies in their supplementary functionalities. To make their product more appealing and attract a wider user base, creators of online compasses incorporate new and diverse functions and features. Some online compasses can provide you with your geographic coordinates or even offer tools to predict weather conditions and display topographical maps. When using online compasses, you may discover features you didn't even know you needed.

Effective Educational Tools:

Online compasses can also serve educational purposes effectively. In general, many older devices and technologies, such as traditional compasses, may not captivate the interest of the newer generation, making it challenging for children to engage with these devices and hindering their education. However, online compasses, with their user-friendly interfaces and engaging features, can be used to teach children and students about directions, maps, and geographic coordinates. Easy access to online compasses enables children to receive more suitable and practical education by directly utilizing these tools.

Environmental Conservation:

Another benefit of using online compasses is their contribution to reducing environmental harm. Traditional compasses are often manufactured using various metals, which can deplete environmental resources over time. In contrast, since online compasses are available on mobile phones and other smart devices, there's no need to create new products to use them. Therefore, the use of online compasses diminishes waste production and promotes a healthier environment.

What are some common everyday uses for online compasses?

In today's world, online compasses find extensive application in various areas, including:

Car Navigation: Online compasses play a pivotal role in the modern automotive industry. Many contemporary and sophisticated cars are equipped with navigation systems that rely on online compasses and GPS technology. These systems enable drivers to navigate effectively and reach their destinations with ease.

Nature Exploration and Travel: Online compasses also prove invaluable to nature enthusiasts and travelers. Individuals passionate about exploring the great outdoors and wildlife often rely on compasses to navigate through diverse landscapes. Online compasses, offering additional features beyond basic orientation, become the preferred choice for such adventurers. Their user-friendly interfaces make them accessible to anyone seeking direction while traveling or hiking.

Military Applications: Compasses hold a critical position among the essential tools carried by military forces worldwide. They serve as vital aids for soldiers who find themselves disoriented or need to pinpoint specific locations. While online compasses can enhance accuracy, their reliance on internet connectivity may limit their utility in military operations.

About Us

Compass

assEducationSign InMenuDonateARTICLEARTICLECompassCompassA compass is a device that indicates direction. It is one of the most important instruments for navigation.Grades9 - 12+SubjectsGeography, Human Geography‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌Loading ...ArticleVocabularyA compass is a device that indicates direction. It is one of the most important instruments for navigation. Magnetic compasses are the most well known type of compass. They have become so popular that the term “compass” almost always refers a magnetic compass. While the design and construction of this type of compass has changed significantly over the centuries, the concept of how it works has remained the same. Magnetic compasses consist of a magnetized needle that is allowed to rotate so it lines up with Earth's magnetic field. The ends point to what are known as magnetic north and magnetic south. Scientists and historians don’t know when the principles behind magnetic compasses were discovered. Ancient Greeks understood magnetism. As early as 2,000 years ago, Chinese scientists may have known that rubbing an iron bar (such as a needle) with a naturally occurring magnet, called a lodestone, would temporarily magnetize the needle so that it would point north and south. Very early compasses were made of a magnetized needle attached to a piece of wood or cork that floated freely in a dish of water. As the needle would settle, the marked end would point toward magnetic north. As engineers and scientists learned more about magnetism, the compass needle was mounted and placed in the middle of a card that showed the cardinal directions—north, south, east, and west. A spearhead and the letter T, which stood for the Latin name of the North Wind, Tramontana, signified north. This combination evolved into a fleur-de-lis design, which can still be seen today. All 32 points of direction were eventually added to the compass card. Historians think China may have been the first civilization to develop a magnetic compass that could be used for navigation. Chinese scientists may have developed navigational compasses as early as the 11th or 12th century. Western Europeans soon followed at the end of the 12th century. In their earliest use, compasses were likely used as backups for when the sun, stars, or other landmarks could not be seen. Eventually, as compasses became more reliable and more explorers understood how to read them, the devices became a critical navigational tool. Adjustments and Adaptations By the 15th century, explorers realized the “north” indicated by a compass was not the same as Earth’s true geographic north. This discrepancy between magnetic north and true north is called variation (by mariners or pilots) or magnetic declination (by land navigators) and varies depending on location. Variation is not significant when using magnetic compasses near the Equator, but closer to the North and South Poles, the difference is much greater and can lead someone many kilometers off-course. Navigators must adjust their compass readings to account for variation. Other adaptations have been made to magnetic compasses over time, especially for their use in marine navigation. When ships evolved from being made of wood to being made of iron and steel, the magnetism of the ship affected compass readings. This difference is called deviation. Adjustments such as placing soft iron balls (called Kelvin spheres) and bar magnets (called Flinders bars) near the compass helped increase the accuracy of the readings. Deviation must also be taken into account on aircraft using compasses, due to the metal in the construction of an airplane. Magnetic compasses come in many forms. The most basic are portable compasses for use on casual hikes. Magnetic compasses can have additional features, such as magnifiers for use with maps, a prism or a mirror that allows you to see the landscape as you follow the compass reading, or markings in Braille for the visually impaired. The most complicated compasses are complex devices on ships or planes that can calculate and adjust for motion, variation, and deviation. Other Types of Compasses Some compasses do not use Earth’s magnetism to indicate direction. The gyrocompass, invented in the early 20th century, uses a spinning gyroscope to follow Earth’s axis of rotation to point to true north. Since magnetic north is not measured, variation is not an issue. Once the gyroscope begins spinning, motion will not disturb it. This type of compass is often used on ships and aircraft. A solar compass uses the sun as a navigational tool. The most common method is to use a compass card and the angle of the shadow of the sun to indicate direction. Even without a compass card, there are techniques that use the sun as a compass. One method is to make a shadow stick. A shadow stick is a stick placed upright in the ground. Pebbles placed around the stick, and a piece of string to track the shadow of the sun across the sky, help a navigator determine the directions of east and west. Another type of solar compass is an old-fashioned analog (not digital) watch. Using the watch’s hands and the position of the sun, it is possible to determine north or south. Simply hold the watch parallel to the ground (in your hand) and point the hour hand in the direction of the sun. Find the angle between the hour hand and the 12 o’clock mark. This is the north-south line. In the Southern Hemisphere, north will be the direction closer to the sun. In the Northern Hemisphere, north will be the direction further from the sun. Receivers from the global positioning system (GPS) have begun to take the place of compasses. A GPS receiver coordinates with satellites orbiting the Earth and monitoring stations on Earth to pinpoint the receiver's location. GPS receivers can plot latitude, longitude, and altitude on a map. Unless large objects block signals, readings are usually accurate to within about 15 meters (50 feet). Despite advancements with GPS, the compass is still a valuable tool. Many airplanes and ships still use highly advanced compasses as navigational instruments. For casual observation—for navigators on foot or in a small boat—a pocket compass or a basic compass mounted on a dashboard remains a practical and portable tool.Fast FactAnimals and CompassesMany animals—such as certain types of ants, fish, and birds—use the sun as a compass to help them find direction. They use their internal biological clock to compensate for the sun shifting in the sky and maintain a straight course. Other animals—like pigeons—are able to navigate using the Earth’s own magnetic field. Their brains function like an internal magnetic compass to follow the Earth’s magnetic field.Fast FactPole SwapIf you were using a compass 800,000 years ago and facing north, the needle would point to the south magnetic pole. Why? Even though the Earth acts like a giant magnet, it is not stable. Both the north and south magnetic poles are slowly shifting. Since the magnetic north pole was discovered in the early 19th century, it has drifted northward by more than 966 kilometers (600 miles) and it continues to move about 40 miles per year. The north and south magnetic poles have also switched places many times in the Earth’s history.Fast FactSpiritual OrienteeringThe Chinese first used compasses not for navigation, but for spiritual purposes. They used the magnetic devices to organize buildings and other things according to feng shui, the ancient practice of harmonizing an environment according to the "laws of Heaven."Articles & ProfilesRoyal Museums Greenwich: Compasses and Magnetism on EarthVideoOrdnance Survey: How to take a compass bearing with Steve Backshall and Ordnance SurveyWebsiteNatural Resources Canada: Using a CompassCreditsMedia CreditsThe audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.WriterAlison Ince RodgersEditorJeannie Evers, Emdash Editing, Emdash EditingProducerNational Geographic SocietyotherLast UpdatedOctober 19, 2023User PermissionsFor information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. They will best know the preferred format. When you reach out to them, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource.MediaIf a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media.TextText on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service.InteractivesAny interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives.Related ResourcesNational Geographic Headquarters 1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036ABOUTNational Geographic SocietyNatGeo.comNews and ImpactContact UsExploreOur ExplorersOur ProgramsEducationNat Geo LiveStorytellers CollectiveTraveling ExhibitionsJoin UsWays to GiveApply for a GrantCareersdonateget updatesConnectNational Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. © 1996 - 2024 National Geographic Society. All rights reserved.Privacy Notice|Sustainability Policy|Terms of Service|Code of Eth

Compass Education - School Management System

Why Compass?

Making the Switch

Help and Resources

Want a Demo?

See all that Compass has to offer in video demonstration or book a personalised 1:1 demo with our customer success team.

Book a 1:1 Demo

Watch a Demo

Features

Explore all Features

Leadership & School Administration

Wellbeing

School Community

Learning Management

Explore all Features

Leadership & School Administration

Wellbeing

School Community

Learning Management

For Schools

Why Compass?

Support

Why Compass?

Support

For Parents

Why Compass?

Parent Guide

Parent FAQ

Why Compass?

Parent Guide

Parent FAQ

Experience Compass

Watch a Demo

See all that Compass has to offer in a video demonstration with our customer success team.

Book your own Demo

We’ll show you how Compass can help your school achieve a seamlessly integrated solution to get your teachers doing what they love – teaching!

Request an Info Pack

Request an Info Pack and we’ll send you a comprehensive guide to Compass that you can read at your leisure.

Resources

News and Blog

Request Info Pack

News and Blog

Request Info Pack

Get Help

Support

Parent Guide

Parent FAQ

Forgot Password

Get in Touch

Support

Parent Guide

Parent FAQ

Forgot Password

Get in Touch

Download the Compass App

Access student information on the go with the Compass mobile app for iPhone & Android phones.

Region

About Compass

Contact

About Compass

Contact

Why Compass?

Making the Switch

Help and Resources

About Compass

Want a Demo?

See all that Compass has to offer in video demonstration or book a personalised 1:1 demo with our customer success team.

Book a 1:1 Demo

Watch a Demo

Features

Explore all Features

Leadership & School Administration

Wellbeing

School Community

Learning Management

Explore all Features

Leadership & School Administration

Wellbeing

School Community

Learning Management

For Schools

Why Compass?

Support

Why Compass?

Support

For Parents

Explore all Features

Leadership & School Administration

Wellbeing

School Community

Learning Management

Explore all Features

Leadership & School Administration

Wellbeing

School Community

Learning Management

Experience Compass

Watch a Demo

See all that Compass has to offer in a video demonstration with our customer success team.

Book your own Demo

We’ll show you how Compass can help your school achieve a seamlessly integrated solution to get your teachers doing what they love – teaching!

Request an Info Pack

Request an Info Pack and we’ll send you a comprehensive guide to Compass that you can read at your leisure.

Resources

News and Blog

Request Info Pack

News and Blog

Request Info Pack

Get Help

Support

Parent Guide

Parent FAQ

Forgot Password

Get in Touch

Support

Parent Guide

Parent FAQ

Forgot Password

Get in Touch

Download the Compass App

Access student information on the go with the Compass mobile app for iPhone & Android phones.

About Compass

Contact

About Compass

Contact

School management made easy in one connected platform.

Every day, thousands of schools find their way using Compass, Australia’s most used all-in-one school management software.

Compass for Schools

Compass for Parents

Used every day by millions of people across Australia, Ireland and the UK

School Leaders – Guide your school with clarity and certainty.Running a school takes coordination of people, processes, information and of course students. So why rely on multiple, old systems to run the show? Compass rolls a range of functions into a single platform, giving you a clear view of what’s going on at school across learning and assessment, wellbeing, and business performance.

Compass for Schools

Explore features

Parents and Carers – Be more involved in your child’s school experience.Parent and teacher communication plays a significant role in a child’s learning experience. The Compass app enables parents to engage closely with school to see how their child is performing and feeling, book their next teacher conference, pay fees easily, and get ready for the next excursion. The Compass app gives busy parents access to everything they need to know.

Compass for Parents

GET THE COMPASS SCHOOL MANAGER APP

Teachers – Focus on what you do best.Teachers are the main ingredient to a successful student experience, so why not free them from manual admin? Compass digitises almost every aspect of learning and assessment. From planning term curriculums, setting learning tasks, sharing resources, and reporting to parents on how students are progressing. Time spent teaching is time better spent.

LEARNING MANAGEMENT

Wellbeing

Explore All Features

Business Managers – Deep data insights are just a click away.

No two days are the same for Business Managers. Compass helps you work smarter, no matter what’s thrown at you. And, with complete visibility of everything from payments, to budgets, processes and staff resourcing – you can manage operations with confidence.

Leadership & School Administration

Explore all features

Administrators – Take centre stage in school management.Compass makes light work of multitasking, with a flexible system that keeps up with you every day. Compass enables administrators to manage school data and run comprehensive reports with the click of a button. Spend less time on admin and more time engaging the school community.

Leadership & School Administration

School Community

Explore all features

IT Managers – set your system up for success.For IT leaders and School Technicians, implementing new software requires careful planning and delivery. Compass is 100% cloud-based, integrating with a wide range of student information systems, and meets the highest levels of government compliance. Combine this with dedicated change management support, and your transition to a new way of working couldn’t be easier.

Make the Switch

Explore all features

Compass in (a little over) one minute.

Interested in seeing more?

Watch a Demo

Compass are the change management experts.

Change can be scary, but you’re never alone with Compass.

Making the switch to new school software isn’t a small task. So, we’ll be with you every step of the way. Your Customer Success Manager will do the hard yards together with you – from switching over systems, to training your people. And, they’re backed by 250 dedicated school software experts ready to help at a moment’s notice.

STELLAR SUPPORT | PERSONALISED MIGRATON HELP | 250+ STRONG EXPERT TEAM

Making the Switch

Department of Education approved in NSW, VIC, QLD and WA

Compass meets stringent security and quality requirements of state governments across Australia.

Data hosted in Australia

Our cloud hosting is ISO27001 compliant and is hosted onshore here in Australia and meets all government regulations.

Dedicated Support team available via chat, email, phone

Our support team is here to help from 7am – 2am AEST Monday to Friday. No challenge is too small!

99% uptime guarantee

Our cloud-based platform is supported by multiple redundancies ensuring ultra-reliable availability and minimal downtime.

Not quite ready to talk?

Learn about how Compass could help your school, at your own pace.

Download a Compass info pack

Compass - Wikipedia

Jump to content

Main menu

move to sidebar

hide

Navigation

Main pageContentsCurrent eventsRandom articleAbout WikipediaContact usDonate

Contribute

HelpLearn to editCommunity portalRecent changesUpload file

Create account

Personal tools

Create account Log in

Pages for logged out editors learn more

ContributionsTalk

Contents

move to sidebar

hide

(Top)

1History

2Design

3Variants

4Construction

5Use

6Non-magnetic compasses

7See also

8Notes

9References

10Further reading

11External links

Toggle the table of contents

Compass

120 languages

AfrikaansÆngliscالعربيةAragonésAsturianuAzərbaycancaتۆرکجهবাংলাБашҡортсаБеларускаяБеларуская (тарашкевіца)भोजपुरीБългарскиBosanskiBrezhonegБуряадCatalàЧӑвашлаČeštinaCymraegDanskDeutschEestiΕλληνικάEspañolEsperantoEuskaraفارسیFøroysktFrançaisFryskGaeilgeGàidhligGalego贛語ગુજરાતી한국어HausaՀայերենहिन्दीHrvatskiIdoBahasa IndonesiaInterlinguaÍslenskaItalianoעבריתJawaಕನ್ನಡKapampanganქართულიҚазақшаKiswahiliKongoKriyòl gwiyannenКыргызчаLatinaLatviešuLietuviųLa .lojban.MagyarМакедонскиMalagasyമലയാളംमराठीBahasa Melayu閩東語 / Mìng-dĕ̤ng-ngṳ̄MirandésМонголမြန်မာဘာသာNederlandsनेपाली日本語NordfriiskNorsk bokmålNorsk nynorskNouormandOccitanଓଡ଼ିଆOromooOʻzbekcha / ўзбекчаਪੰਜਾਬੀپنجابیPapiamentuپښتوPatoisភាសាខ្មែរPolskiPortuguêsQaraqalpaqshaRomânăRuna SimiРусскийShqipසිංහලSimple EnglishسنڌيSlovenčinaSlovenščinaکوردیСрпски / srpskiSrpskohrvatski / српскохрватскиSundaSuomiSvenskaTagalogதமிழ்Татарча / tatarçaతెలుగుไทยТоҷикӣTürkçeУкраїнськаاردوTiếng ViệtWinaray吴语ייִדיש粵語中文

Edit links

ArticleTalk

English

ReadView sourceView history

Tools

move to sidebar

hide

Actions

ReadView sourceView history

General

What links hereRelated changesUpload fileSpecial pagesPermanent linkPage informationCite this pageGet shortened URLDownload QR codeWikidata item

Print/export

Download as PDFPrintable version

In other projects

Wikimedia CommonsWikiquote

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Instrument used for navigation and orientation

This article is about the direction finding instrument used in navigation. For other uses, see Compass (disambiguation).

A modern military compass, with included sight device for aligningA compass is a device that shows the cardinal directions used for navigation and geographic orientation. It commonly consists of a magnetized needle or other element, such as a compass card or compass rose, which can pivot to align itself with magnetic north. Other methods may be used, including gyroscopes, magnetometers, and GPS receivers.

Compasses often show angles in degrees: north corresponds to 0°, and the angles increase clockwise, so east is 90°, south is 180°, and west is 270°. These numbers allow the compass to show azimuths or bearings which are commonly stated in degrees. If local variation between magnetic north and true north is known, then direction of magnetic north also gives direction of true north.

Among the Four Great Inventions, the magnetic compass was first invented as a device for divination as early as the Chinese Han dynasty (since c. 206 BC),[1][2] and later adopted for navigation by the Song dynasty Chinese during the 11th century.[3][4][5] The first usage of a compass recorded in Western Europe and the Islamic world occurred around 1190.[6][7]

The magnetic compass is the most familiar compass type. It functions as a pointer to "magnetic north", the local magnetic meridian, because the magnetized needle at its heart aligns itself with the horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic field. The magnetic field exerts a torque on the needle, pulling the North end or pole of the needle approximately toward the Earth's North magnetic pole, and pulling the other toward the Earth's South magnetic pole.[8] The needle is mounted on a low-friction pivot point, in better compasses a jewel bearing, so it can turn easily. When the compass is held level, the needle turns until, after a few seconds to allow oscillations to die out, it settles into its equilibrium orientation.

In navigation, directions on maps are usually expressed with reference to geographical or true north, the direction toward the Geographical North Pole, the rotation axis of the Earth. Depending on where the compass is located on the surface of the Earth the angle between true north and magnetic north, called magnetic declination can vary widely with geographic location. The local magnetic declination is given on most maps, to allow the map to be oriented with a compass parallel to true north. The locations of the Earth's magnetic poles slowly change with time, which is referred to as geomagnetic secular variation. The effect of this means a map with the latest declination information should be used.[9] Some magnetic compasses include means to manually compensate for the magnetic declination, so that the compass shows true directions.

History

Model of a lodestone compass from Han dynasty

Main article: History of the compass

The first compasses in ancient Han dynasty China were made of lodestone, a naturally magnetized ore of iron.[2][10] Later compasses were made of iron needles, magnetized by striking them with a lodestone, which appeared in China by 1088 during the Song dynasty, as described by Shen Kuo.[11] Dry compasses began to appear around 1300 in Medieval Europe and the Islamic world.[12][7] This was supplanted in the early 20th century by the liquid-filled magnetic compass.[13]

Design

A liquid-filled protractor or orienteering compass with lanyard

Modern compasses usually use a magnetized needle or dial inside a capsule completely filled with a liquid (lamp oil, mineral oil, white spirits, purified kerosene, or ethyl alcohol are common). While older designs commonly incorporated a flexible rubber diaphragm or airspace inside the capsule to allow for volume changes caused by temperature or altitude, some modern liquid compasses use smaller housings and/or flexible capsule materials to accomplish the same result.[14] The liquid inside the capsule serves to damp the movement of the needle, reducing oscillation time and increasing stability. Key points on the compass, including the north end of the needle are often marked with phosphorescent, photoluminescent, or self-luminous materials[15] to enable the compass to be read at night or in poor light. As the compass fill liquid is noncompressible under pressure, many ordinary liquid-filled compasses will operate accurately underwater to considerable depths.

Many modern compasses incorporate a baseplate and protractor tool, and are referred to variously as "orienteering", "baseplate", "map compass" or "protractor" designs. This type of compass uses a separate magnetized needle inside a rotating capsule, an orienting "box" or gate for aligning the needle with magnetic north, a transparent base containing map orienting lines, and a bezel (outer dial) marked in degrees or other units of angular measurement.[16] The capsule is mounted in a transparent baseplate containing a direction-of-travel (DOT) indicator for use in taking bearings directly from a map.[16]

Cammenga air filled lensatic compass

Other features found on modern orienteering compasses are map and romer scales for measuring distances and plotting positions on maps, luminous markings on the face or bezels, various sighting mechanisms (mirror, prism, etc.) for taking bearings of distant objects with greater precision, gimbal-mounted, "global" needles for use in differing hemispheres, special rare-earth magnets to stabilize compass needles, adjustable declination for obtaining instant true bearings without resorting to arithmetic, and devices such as inclinometers for measuring gradients.[17] The sport of orienteering has also resulted in the development of models with extremely fast-settling and stable needles utilizing rare-earth magnets for optimal use with a topographic map, a land navigation technique known as terrain association.[18] Many marine compasses designed for use on boats with constantly shifting angles use dampening fluids such as isopar M or isopar L to limit the rapid fluctuation and direction of the needle.[19]

The military forces of a few nations, notably the United States Army, continue to issue field compasses with magnetized compass dials or cards instead of needles. A magnetic card compass is usually equipped with an optical, lensatic, or prismatic sight, which allows the user to read the bearing or azimuth off the compass card while simultaneously aligning the compass with the objective (see photo). Magnetic card compass designs normally require a separate protractor tool in order to take bearings directly from a map.[20][21]

The U.S. M-1950 military lensatic compass does not use a liquid-filled capsule as a damping mechanism, but rather electromagnetic induction to control oscillation of its magnetized card. A "deep-well" design is used to allow the compass to be used globally with a card tilt of up to 8 degrees without impairing accuracy.[22] As induction forces provide less damping than fluid-filled designs, a needle lock is fitted to the compass to reduce wear, operated by the folding action of the rear sight/lens holder. The use of air-filled induction compasses has declined over the years, as they may become inoperative or inaccurate in freezing temperatures or extremely humid environments due to condensation or water ingress.[23]

Some military compasses, like the U.S. M-1950 (Cammenga 3H) military lensatic compass, the Silva 4b Militaire, and the Suunto M-5N(T) contain the radioactive material tritium (31H) and a combination of phosphors.[24] The U.S. M-1950 equipped with self-luminous lighting contains 120 mCi (millicuries) of tritium. The purpose of the tritium and phosphors is to provide illumination for the compass, via radioluminescent tritium illumination, which does not require the compass to be "recharged" by sunlight or artificial light.[25] However, tritium has a half-life of only about 12 years,[26] so a compass that contains 120 mCi of tritium when new will contain only 60 when it is 12 years old, 30 when it is 24 years old, and so on. Consequently, the illumination of the display will fade.

Mariners' compasses can have two or more magnets permanently attached to a compass card, which moves freely on a pivot. A lubber line, which can be a marking on the compass bowl or a small fixed needle, indicates the ship's heading on the compass card. Traditionally the card is divided into thirty-two points (known as rhumbs), although modern compasses are marked in degrees rather than cardinal points. The glass-covered box (or bowl) contains a suspended gimbal within a binnacle. This preserves the horizontal position.

A close up photo of a geological compass

The magnetic compass is very reliable at moderate latitudes, but in geographic regions near the Earth's magnetic poles it becomes unusable. As the compass is moved closer to one of the magnetic poles, the magnetic declination, the difference between the direction to geographical north and magnetic north, becomes greater and greater. At some point close to the magnetic pole the compass will not indicate any particular direction but will begin to drift. Also, the needle starts to point up or down when getting closer to the poles, because of the so-called magnetic inclination. Cheap compasses with bad bearings may get stuck because of this and therefore indicate a wrong direction.

Magnetic compasses are influenced by any fields other than Earth's. Local environments may contain magnetic mineral deposits and artificial sources such as MRIs, large iron or steel bodies, electrical engines or strong permanent magnets. Any electrically conductive body produces its own magnetic field when it is carrying an electric current. Magnetic compasses are prone to errors in the neighborhood of such bodies. Some compasses include magnets which can be adjusted to compensate for external magnetic fields, making the compass more reliable and accurate.

Main article: Magnetic dip § Acceleration error

A compass is also subject to errors when the compass is accelerated or decelerated in an airplane or automobile. Depending on which of the Earth's hemispheres the compass is located and if the force is acceleration or deceleration the compass will increase or decrease the indicated heading. Compasses that include compensating magnets are especially prone to these errors, since accelerations tilt the needle, bringing it closer or further from the magnets.

Main article: Magnetic dip § Turning error

The dipping effect causes compass card to lead in a northerly turning error (fig. A) and lag in a southerly turning error (fig. B).[27]

Another error of the mechanical compass is the turning error. When one turns from a heading of east or west the compass will lag behind the turn or lead ahead of the turn. Magnetometers, and substitutes such as gyrocompasses, are more stable in such situations.

Variants

Thumb compass on left

A thumb compass is a type of compass commonly used in orienteering, a sport in which map reading and terrain association are paramount. Consequently, most thumb compasses have minimal or no degree markings at all, and are normally used only to orient the map to magnetic north. An oversized rectangular needle or north indicator aids visibility. Thumb compasses are also often transparent so that an orienteer can hold a map in the hand with the compass and see the map through the compass. The best models use rare-earth magnets to reduce needle settling time to 1 second or less.

Main article: Magnetometer

Further information: Ecompass

3-axis electronic magnetometer AKM8975 by AKM Semiconductor

Small compasses found in clocks, mobile phones, and other electronic devices are solid-state microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) compasses, usually built out of two or three magnetic field sensors that provide data for a microprocessor. Often, the device is a discrete component which outputs either a digital or analog signal proportional to its orientation. This signal is interpreted by a controller or microprocessor and either used internally, or sent to a display unit. The sensor uses highly calibrated internal electronics to measure the response of the device to the Earth's magnetic field.

A standard Brunton Geo, used commonly by geologists

Apart from navigational compasses, other specialty compasses have also been designed to accommodate specific uses. These include:

The Qibla compass, which is used by Muslims to show the direction to Mecca for prayers.

The optical or prismatic compass, most often used by surveyors, but also by cave explorers, foresters, and geologists. These compasses generally use a liquid-damped capsule[28] and magnetized floating compass dial with an integral optical sight, often fitted with built-in photoluminescent or battery-powered illumination.[29] Using the optical sight, such compasses can be read with extreme accuracy when taking bearings to an object, often to fractions of a degree. Most of these compasses are designed for heavy-duty use, with high-quality needles and jeweled bearings, and many are fitted for tripod mounting for additional accuracy.[29]

The trough compass, mounted in a rectangular box whose length was often several times its width, date back several centuries. They were used for land surveying, particularly with plane tables.

The luopan, a compass used by feng shui practitioners.

Construction

A magnetic rod is required when constructing a compass. This can be created by aligning an iron or steel rod with Earth's magnetic field and then tempering or striking it. However, this method produces only a weak magnet so other methods are preferred. For example, a magnetised rod can be created by repeatedly rubbing an iron rod with a magnetic lodestone. This magnetised rod (or magnetic needle) is then placed on a low friction surface to allow it to freely pivot to align itself with the magnetic field. It is then labeled so the user can distinguish the north-pointing from the south-pointing end; in modern convention the north end is typically marked in some way.

If a needle is rubbed on a lodestone or other magnet, the needle becomes magnetized. When it is inserted in a cork or piece of wood, and placed in a bowl of water it becomes a compass. Such devices were universally used as compass until the invention of the box-like compass with a 'dry' pivoting needle sometime around 1300.

Main article: Points of the compass

Wrist compass of the Soviet Army with counterclockwise double graduation: 60° (like a watch) and 360°

Originally, many compasses were marked only as to the direction of magnetic north, or to the four cardinal points (north, south, east, west). Later, these were divided, in China into 24, and in Europe into 32 equally spaced points around the compass card. For a table of the thirty-two points, see compass points.

In the modern era, the 360-degree system took hold. This system is still in use today for civilian navigators. The degree system spaces 360 equidistant points located clockwise around the compass dial. In the 19th century some European nations adopted the "grad" (also called grade or gon) system instead, where a right angle is 100 grads to give a circle of 400 grads. Dividing grads into tenths to give a circle of 4000 decigrades has also been used in armies.

Most military forces have adopted the French "millieme" system. This is an approximation of a milli-radian (6283 per circle), in which the compass dial is spaced into 6400 units or "mils" for additional precision when measuring angles, laying artillery, etc. The value to the military is that one angular mil subtends approximately one metre at a distance of one kilometer. Imperial Russia used a system derived by dividing the circumference of a circle into chords of the same length as the radius. Each of these was divided into 100 spaces, giving a circle of 600. The Soviet Union divided these into tenths to give a circle of 6000 units, usually translated as "mils". This system was adopted by the former Warsaw Pact countries (e.g. Soviet Union, East Germany), often counterclockwise (see picture of wrist compass). This is still in use in Russia.

Because the Earth's magnetic field's inclination and intensity vary at different latitudes, compasses are often balanced during manufacture so that the dial or needle will be level, eliminating needle drag which can give inaccurate readings. Most manufacturers balance their compass needles for one of five zones, ranging from zone 1, covering most of the Northern Hemisphere, to zone 5 covering Australia and the southern oceans. This individual zone balancing prevents excessive dipping of one end of the needle which can cause the compass card to stick and give false readings.[30]

Some compasses feature a special needle balancing system that will accurately indicate magnetic north regardless of the particular magnetic zone. Other magnetic compasses have a small sliding counterweight installed on the needle itself. This sliding counterweight, called a 'rider', can be used for counterbalancing the needle against the dip caused by inclination if the compass is taken to a zone with a higher or lower dip.[30]

Main article: Magnetic deviation

A binnacle containing a ship's standard compass, with the two iron balls which correct the effects of ferromagnetic materials. This unit is on display in a museum.

Like any magnetic device, compasses are affected by nearby ferrous materials, as well as by strong local electromagnetic forces. Compasses used for wilderness land navigation should not be used in proximity to ferrous metal objects or electromagnetic fields (car electrical systems, automobile engines, steel pitons, etc.) as that can affect their accuracy.[31] Compasses are particularly difficult to use accurately in or near trucks, cars or other mechanized vehicles even when corrected for deviation by the use of built-in magnets or other devices. Large amounts of ferrous metal combined with the on-and-off electrical fields caused by the vehicle's ignition and charging systems generally result in significant compass errors.

At sea, a ship's compass must also be corrected for errors, called deviation, caused by iron and steel in its structure and equipment. The ship is swung, that is rotated about a fixed point while its heading is noted by alignment with fixed points on the shore. A compass deviation card is prepared so that the navigator can convert between compass and magnetic headings. The compass can be corrected in three ways. First the lubber line can be adjusted so that it is aligned with the direction in which the ship travels, then the effects of permanent magnets can be corrected for by small magnets fitted within the case of the compass. The effect of ferromagnetic materials in the compass's environment can be corrected by two iron balls mounted on either side of the compass binnacle in concert with permanent magnets and a Flinders bar.[32] The coefficient

{\displaystyle a_{0}}

represents the error in the lubber line, while

{\displaystyle a_{1},b_{1}}

the ferromagnetic effects and

{\displaystyle a_{2},b_{2}}

the non-ferromagnetic component.[33]

A similar process is used to calibrate the compass in light general aviation aircraft, with the compass deviation card often mounted permanently just above or below the magnetic compass on the instrument panel. Fluxgate electronic compasses can be calibrated automatically, and can also be programmed with the correct local compass variation so as to indicate the true heading.

Use

This section contains instructions, advice, or how-to content. Please help rewrite the content so that it is more encyclopedic or move it to Wikiversity, Wikibooks, or Wikivoyage. (November 2023)

Turning the compass scale on the map (D – the local magnetic declination)

When the needle is aligned with and superimposed over the outlined orienting arrow on the bottom of the capsule, the degree figure on the compass ring at the direction-of-travel (DOT) indicator gives the magnetic bearing to the target (mountain).

A magnetic compass points to magnetic north pole, which is approximately 1,000 miles from the true geographic North Pole. A magnetic compass's user can determine true North by finding the magnetic north and then correcting for variation and deviation. Variation is defined as the angle between the direction of true (geographic) north and the direction of the meridian between the magnetic poles. Variation values for most of the oceans had been calculated and published by 1914.[34] Deviation refers to the response of the compass to local magnetic fields caused by the presence of iron and electric currents; one can partly compensate for these by careful location of the compass and the placement of compensating magnets under the compass itself. Mariners have long known that these measures do not completely cancel deviation; hence, they performed an additional step by measuring the compass bearing of a landmark with a known magnetic bearing. They then pointed their ship to the next compass point and measured again, graphing their results. In this way, correction tables could be created, which would be consulted when compasses were used when traveling in those locations.

Mariners are concerned about very accurate measurements; however, casual users need not be concerned with differences between magnetic and true North. Except in areas of extreme magnetic declination variance (20 degrees or more), this is enough to protect from walking in a substantially different direction than expected over short distances, provided the terrain is fairly flat and visibility is not impaired. By carefully recording distances (time or paces) and magnetic bearings traveled, one can plot a course and return to one's starting point using the compass alone.[35]

Soldier using a prismatic compass to get an azimuth

Compass navigation in conjunction with a map (terrain association) requires a different method. To take a map bearing or true bearing (a bearing taken in reference to true, not magnetic north) to a destination with a protractor compass, the edge of the compass is placed on the map so that it connects the current location with the desired destination (some sources recommend physically drawing a line). The orienting lines in the base of the compass dial are then rotated to align with actual or true north by aligning them with a marked line of longitude (or the vertical margin of the map), ignoring the compass needle entirely.[36] The resulting true bearing or map bearing may then be read at the degree indicator or direction-of-travel (DOT) line, which may be followed as an azimuth (course) to the destination. If a magnetic north bearing or compass bearing is desired, the compass must be adjusted by the amount of magnetic declination before using the bearing so that both map and compass are in agreement.[36] In the given example, the large mountain in the second photo was selected as the target destination on the map. Some compasses allow the scale to be adjusted to compensate for the local magnetic declination; if adjusted correctly, the compass will give the true bearing instead of the magnetic bearing.

The modern hand-held protractor compass always has an additional direction-of-travel (DOT) arrow or indicator inscribed on the baseplate. To check one's progress along a course or azimuth, or to ensure that the object in view is indeed the destination, a new compass reading may be taken to the target if visible (here, the large mountain). After pointing the DOT arrow on the baseplate at the target, the compass is oriented so that the needle is superimposed over the orienting arrow in the capsule. The resulting bearing indicated is the magnetic bearing to the target. Again, if one is using "true" or map bearings, and the compass does not have preset, pre-adjusted declination, one must additionally add or subtract magnetic declination to convert the magnetic bearing into a true bearing. The exact value of the magnetic declination is place-dependent and varies over time, though declination is frequently given on the map itself or obtainable on-line from various sites. If the hiker has been following the correct path, the compass' corrected (true) indicated bearing should closely correspond to the true bearing previously obtained from the map.

A compass should be laid down on a level surface so that the needle only rests or hangs on the bearing fused to the compass casing – if used at a tilt, the needle might touch the casing on the compass and not move freely, hence not pointing to the magnetic north accurately, giving a faulty reading. To see if the needle is well leveled, look closely at the needle, and tilt it slightly to see if the needle is swaying side to side freely and the needle is not contacting the casing of the compass. If the needle tilts to one direction, tilt the compass slightly and gently to the opposing direction until the compass needle is horizontal, lengthwise. Items to avoid around compasses are magnets of any kind and any electronics. Magnetic fields from electronics can easily disrupt the needle, preventing it from aligning with the Earth's magnetic fields, causing inaccurate readings. The Earth's natural magnetic forces are considerably weak, measuring at 0.5 gauss and magnetic fields from household electronics can easily exceed it, overpowering the compass needle. Exposure to strong magnets, or magnetic interference can sometimes cause the magnetic poles of the compass needle to differ or even reverse. Avoid iron rich deposits when using a compass, for example, certain rocks which contain magnetic minerals, like Magnetite. This is often indicated by a rock with a surface which is dark and has a metallic luster, not all magnetic mineral bearing rocks have this indication. To see if a rock or an area is causing interference on a compass, get out of the area, and see if the needle on the compass moves. If it does, it means that the area or rock the compass was previously at is causing interference and should be avoided.

Non-magnetic compasses

There are other ways to find north than the use of magnetism, and from a navigational point of view a total of seven possible ways exist[37] (where magnetism is one of the seven). Two sensors that use two of the remaining six principles are often also called compasses, i.e. the gyrocompass and GPS-compass.

A gyrocompass is similar to a gyroscope. It is a non-magnetic compass that finds true north by using an (electrically powered) fast-spinning wheel and friction forces in order to exploit the rotation of the Earth. Gyrocompasses are widely used on ships. They have two main advantages over magnetic compasses:

they find true north, i.e., the direction of Earth's rotational axis, as opposed to magnetic north,

they are not affected by ferromagnetic metal (including iron, steel, cobalt, nickel, and various alloys) in a ship's hull. (No compass is affected by nonferromagnetic metal, although a magnetic compass will be affected by any kind of wires with electric current passing through them.)

Large ships typically rely on a gyrocompass, using the magnetic compass only as a backup. Increasingly, electronic fluxgate compasses are used on smaller vessels. However, magnetic compasses are still widely in use as they can be small, use simple reliable technology, are comparatively cheap, are often easier to use than GPS, require no energy supply, and unlike GPS, are not affected by objects, e.g. trees, that can block the reception of electronic signals.

GPS receivers using two or more antennae mounted separately and blending the data with an inertial motion unit (IMU) can now achieve 0.02° in heading accuracy and have startup times in seconds rather than hours for gyrocompass systems. The devices accurately determine the positions (latitudes, longitudes and altitude) of the antennae on the Earth, from which the cardinal directions can be calculated. Manufactured primarily for maritime and aviation applications, they can also detect pitch and roll of ships. Small, portable GPS receivers with only a single antenna can also determine directions if they are being moved, even if only at walking pace. By accurately determining its position on the Earth at times a few seconds apart, the device can calculate its speed and the true bearing (relative to true north) of its direction of motion. Frequently, it is preferable to measure the direction in which a vehicle is actually moving, rather than its heading, i.e. the direction in which its nose is pointing. These directions may be different if there is a crosswind or tidal current.

GPS compasses share the main advantages of gyrocompasses. They determine true North,[37] as opposed to magnetic North, and they are unaffected by perturbations of the Earth's magnetic field. Additionally, compared with gyrocompasses, they are much cheaper, they work better in polar regions, they are less prone to be affected by mechanical vibration, and they can be initialized far more quickly. However, they depend on the functioning of, and communication with, the GPS satellites, which might be disrupted by an electronic attack or by the effects of a severe solar storm. Gyrocompasses remain in use for military purposes (especially in submarines, where magnetic and GPS compasses are useless), but have been largely superseded by GPS compasses, with magnetic backups, in civilian contexts.

Compass Free - Apps on Google Play

ass Free - Apps on Google PlayGamesAppsMoviesBooksKidsgoogle_logo PlayGamesAppsMoviesBooksKidsnonesearchhelp_outline Sign in with Googleplay_appsLibrary & devicespaymentPayments & subscriptionsreviewsMy Play activityredeemOffersPlay PasssettingsSettingsPrivacy Policy • Terms of ServiceGamesAppsMoviesBooksKidsCompass FreePRO CompassContains ads4.5star33.1K reviews1M+DownloadsRated for 3+infoInstallShareAdd to wishlistAbout this apparrow_forward** Use just like a real compass. (Hold your Android flat!) ** ** Your device must have MAGNETIC SENSOR inside to read earth magnetic field. If your device does not have magnetic sensor Compass Free or any other compass app will not work. PLEASE DON’T WRITE BAD COMMENTS, IT’S NOT OUR FAULT! ** Compass Free is essential app for your Android device. It is a professional compass in your pocket, when you need it, where you need it and you never know when I might come handy.PRO Compass shows direction of north, south, east and west, shows degrees in “side window”, has rotating bezel for advanced compass navigation. How to use Compass?First we’ll need to cover a little bit of compass jargon first. The part of Compass that moves and always points north is called the card (with N,S,E, and W indicated, and a beveled edge with a series of numbers on it). There is a movable ring around the edge of the compass, called the bezel. A red double line across the top of the compass is called the lubber line, and finally, there is a little window above the compass which is often named as side-window (as it is on the side of a real compass).Side-window navigation couldn’t be simpler. You point the lubber line on top of your compass at where you want to go. Now as long as you hold your compass flat in front of you with the lubber line pointing in the direction you’re going, you should always see the same number in your window as long as you’re going the right way. If you see a different number, turn until you see the same number. The downside of the side window method is that you need to remember your number. Navigating with bezel works essentially the same as using the side window, but your bezel remembers your number for you. All you do is, point the lubber line on top of your compass at where you want to go, and then wait until the card settles down and stops moving. Then turn your bezel until the double triangle on the edge of the bezel (the notch right by the number zero on the bezel) is bracketing the north arrow on the card. Now as long as you hold your compass flat in front of you with the lubber line pointing in the direction you’re going, you should always see the north arrow inside the notch, as long as you’re going the right way. If not, turn until you see the north arrow inside the notch. Notice that if you’ve adjusted the bezel correctly, the number in the side window is also the number directly across from you at the front end of the lubber line. In other words, if you turned the bezel counterclockwise until the notch bracketed the north arrow, the 120 on the bezel would be at the far end of the lubber line. Notice that on the card, the number showing in the side window is 120. If you were holding this compass and going in the direction of the lubber line, you’d be on a heading of 120.Now you should have learned how to go to desired direction. But how do you get back? Easy! If you’re thinking in terms of the bezel, simply turn until the north arrow faces not to the notch, but to the single triangle that’s exactly across from the notch. Now you’re pointed back where you came. The really tricky part of using your compass isn’t learning what the numbers mean and how to adjust the bezel. The most common mistakes are not holding your compass flat, and not actually going in the direction your lubber line is pointing.Large iron and steel objects can influence the magnetic sensor in your Android device, causing it to point in the wrong direction. This is called deviation. If you suspect this is happening, simply move away from the object several feet and the problem should correct itself.Other features or Compass Free app:- Simple to use, use it like a real compass- Design with functionality in mind (easy to read, lower battery consumption due to black color used) - Large numbers and large rotating bezel- Professional and optimized coding to keep application size as small as possible- It’s FREEUpdated onDec 13, 2023ToolsData safetyarrow_forwardSafety starts with understanding how developers collect and share your data. Data privacy and security practices may vary based on your use, region, and age. The developer provided this information and may update it over time.No data shared with third partiesLearn more about how developers declare sharingThis app may collect these data typesApp activity, App info and performance, and Device or other IDsData is encrypted in transitYou can request that data be deletedSee detailsRatings and reviewsRatings and reviews are verifiedinfo_outlinearrow_forwardRatings and reviews are verifiedinfo_outlinephone_androidPhonetablet_androidTabletwatchWatchtvTVdirections_car_filledCar4.631.5K reviews54321A Google usermore_vert Flag inappropriateMarch 29, 2019After installing this app, your phone's camera will popup ads every time you try to use it. It's not just inconvenient and annoying it can actually ruin a quick photo opportunity. Besides that, the app doesn't even work well. It didn't point North. This app is just a vessel for advertising. I've never been more disappointed with an app.546 people found this review helpfulDid you find this helpful?YesNoA Google usermore_vert Flag inappropriateShow review historyNovember 24, 2018Terrible.. its constantly switching. With once you start moving the phone a little it starts showing you wrong north. Its off by around 15 degrees. Suddenly its off by 60. Then 3-4. With just slightly moving the phone. Tested it alot and its so wrong and off thats its basically useless. You cant trust it. Would never trust using this even if my life was in danger and its the only thing i had. Would rather use my clock pointing the hour arrow towards the sun and disect the angle between the hour arrow and 12oclock mark. Atleast thats accurate. Used my samsung 64gb s8+ when testing302 people found this review helpfulDid you find this helpful?YesNoRVR2.0more_vert Flag inappropriateSeptember 24, 2023Other free Compass apps I tried had large pop-up ads immediately after installation. This one only shows banner ads at the bottom of the screen. I can deal with that.15 people found this review helpfulDid you find this helpful?YesNoSee all reviewsflagFlag as inappropriateApp supportexpand_moreemailSupport emailprocompassapp@gmail.comshieldPrivacy PolicyflagFlag as inappropriateGoogle PlayPlay PassPlay PointsGift cardsRedeemRefund policyKids & familyParent GuideFamily sharingTerms of ServicePrivacyAbout Google PlayDevelopersGoogle StorePhilippines (English (United State

Compass | History, Uses & Types | Britannica

Search Britannica

Click here to search

Search Britannica

Click here to search

Home

Games & Quizzes

History & Society

Science & Tech

Biographies

Animals & Nature

Geography & Travel

Arts & Culture

Money

Videos

On This Day

One Good Fact

Dictionary

New Articles

History & Society

Lifestyles & Social Issues

Philosophy & Religion

Politics, Law & Government

World History

Science & Tech

Health & Medicine

Science

Technology

Biographies

Browse Biographies

Animals & Nature

Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates

Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates

Environment

Fossils & Geologic Time

Mammals

Plants

Geography & Travel

Arts & Culture

Entertainment & Pop Culture

Literature

Sports & Recreation

Visual Arts

Companions

Demystified

Image Galleries

Infographics

Lists

Podcasts

Spotlights

Summaries

The Forum

COMPASS | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

Dictionary

Translate

Grammar

Thesaurus

+Plus

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Shop

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

My profile

+Plus help

Log out

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

My profile

+Plus help

Log out

English (UK)

English

Meaning of compass in English

compassnoun uk

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/ˈkʌm.pəs/ us

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/ˈkʌm.pəs/

compass noun

(DIRECTION DEVICE)

Add to word list

[ C ] a device for finding direction with a needle that can move easily and that always points to magnetic north

artpartner-images/Photographer's Choice/GettyImages

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Points of the compass

cardinal point

compass reading

compass rose

E, e

easterly

eastern

easternmost

geomagnetic pole

magnetic north

magnetic pole

northeastern

northeastward

northerly

northern

northernmost

southern

southwestern

true north

western

westernmost

See more results »

compass noun

(MEASURING DEVICE)

compasses [ plural ]

a V-shaped device that is used for drawing circles or measuring distances on maps: You will need sharp scissors, a ruler, and a pair of compasses for making circles.

compass noun

(LIMIT)

[ U ] formal a particular range (of ability, activity, interest, etc.): It's a musical instrument made of brass, somewhat like a cornet and with a similar compass. The discussion went beyond the compass of my brain.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Range and limits

all the way to idiom

ambit

anywhere

at large idiom

band

finite

finitely

finitude

gamut

glass ceiling

limit

parametrically

point spread

proviso

realm

restricted

spectrum

spread

stretch

string

See more results »

(Definition of compass from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

compass | American Dictionary

compassnoun [ C ] us

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/ˈkʌm·pəs/

compass noun [C]

(DIRECTION)

Add to word list

a device for finding direction with a thin pointed metal part that turns to always point north

compass noun [C]

(DRAWING)

(also compasses, us/ˈkʌm·pə·səz/) a device in the shape of an upside down V whose two pointed, movable parts can be used to draw circles or measure distances on maps

(Definition of compass from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of compass

compass

The only tools for the copying that we can see are a pair of compasses.