Ever worry about finding yourself lost in the woods? A compass is an essential tool for anyone who spends time outdoors. It helps you find your way in unfamiliar territory and can prevent you from getting lost. But how do you use a compass correctly? What are the best tips for using a compass? This article will discuss how a compass works, how to use one, and some additional pointers to make sure you are using it properly whenever you are in a situation where you will need it!
How A Compass Works
A compass is an instrument that uses the earth’s magnetic field to determine which direction you are facing. You can find a simple, inexpensive compass for under $10 in most outdoor stores. The needle will always point in one specific direction, north, south, east, or west, depending on your location on the planet and which way you are facing. What causes this?Â
Unlike other planets, the earth has its own unique layer of magnetism, which surrounds it called Earth’s Magnetic Field. This naturally occurring force interacts with elements within the earth to create electricity and magnetism.
Our compasses respond to these forces by pointing towards either north or south, depending on where you are located on the planet. There is nothing inside your compass that creates this magnetism as it comes from the environment all around you. So even though your compass is made of materials like plastic and metal, it contains no magnetism itself.
How To Use A Compass
When using a compass to orient yourself, first make sure that the red end of the needle always points north! This sounds simple enough but sometimes certain environmental factors can affect how the needle moves. For instance, if you are near any major city then there might be strong magnetic interference.
If this is the case for you and you don’t live in a big city, then simply find a more isolated area and try again until you get an accurate reading. There should also be nothing magnetic or metallic anywhere nearby because these items will also interfere with your reading so keep your cell phone away from your compass.
Know Your Angles
To find your bearings, first, make sure that the red end of the needle is always pointing north. As we discussed before, this ensures an accurate reading. The next step is to familiarize yourself with the different angles used for measuring direction. A typical compass has 360 degrees around it which are broken up into four segments: North, East, South, and West.Â
Make sure you know what each one looks like and how they relate to your surroundings! As a general guide, North will be straight ahead of where you are standing, whereas west will be off to your right-hand side. This way, you can easily figure out which direction you need to go if ever lost in the woods again! Knowing what the different directions are is an important step in learning how to use a compass correctly.
Now that you know what each direction looks like, you can begin using your compass to navigate! Find your general location and then spin yourself around until the red end of the needle points straight towards where you are standing, this segment should be pointing directly at the number 360. After finding north, find east by lining it up with where north was and rotating yourself 90 degrees to the right. South should be directly behind where your back was and west off to your left side.
