Bearing (navigation) facts for kids
In navigation, a bearing is a way to figure out the direction or angle from your position to another object. Think of it like drawing a line from where you are to something you can see, like a lighthouse or a mountain. This line helps you know where that object is in relation to you.
To find a bearing, you need a starting point or a "reference direction." One common reference is the Cardinal directions (North, South, East, West), which you can find with a compass. Sometimes, the direction a ship or airplane is heading can also be used as the reference.
You can use many things as reference points to find a bearing. These include things that are easy to spot and don't move much. Examples are stars, the sun, mountains, and special signals called beacons. Beacons can be lighthouses along the coast or electronic signals and other sea marks out in the open sea.
Bearings can be measured in different ways. Some methods use your eyes to see the object, which are called optical bearings. Other systems use technology like radar to find the direction, especially when it's dark or foggy.
Contents
Bearings are super important for anyone traveling, whether by ship, airplane, or even when hiking. They help people know exactly where they are and where they need to go. By taking bearings to different known points, navigators can pinpoint their exact location on a map. This is called a "fix."
Using a Compass for Bearings
A compass is a key tool for measuring bearings. It helps you find the angle between your direction and North. For example, if a lighthouse is directly to your East, its bearing from your position would be 90 degrees (if North is 0 degrees). Sailors and pilots use compasses all the time to keep track of their position and direction.
Bearings in Everyday Life
Even if you don't use a compass every day, the idea of a bearing is all around you. When you give directions to a friend, like "turn left at the big oak tree," you're using a kind of bearing. The oak tree is your reference point, and "left" is the direction relative to your path.
Images for kids
-
A standard Brunton compass, used by geologists and surveyors to find directions.
See also
In Spanish: Rumbo para niños
