As a vessel changes course to starboard,...

As a vessel changes course to starboard,...

Question 1 of 270705eccef9fbacbc34ba4d4685f

As a vessel changes course to starboard, which is TRUE concerning the compass card in a magnetic compass?

Question 1 of 27070

Q

As a vessel changes course to starboard, which is TRUE concerning the compass card in a magnetic compass?

🔍 Key Concepts

• How a traditional magnetic (liquid) compass is built: the card and magnets float and pivot, the bowl and ship turn underneath • The difference between the ship’s heading and the compass card orientation (compass north) • What you would see if you look down at the compass while you slowly turn the vessel to starboard

💭 Think About

• Imagine standing over the compass as the helmsman steadily puts the rudder right. Do you see the card move, or does the ship’s heading mark move around the card? • In a magnetic compass, which part is ‘lazy’ and tends to stay pointing in the same direction relative to the earth: the card or the ship? • If the vessel is swinging to starboard, which way does the lubber line (ship’s heading mark) appear to move relative to the card graduations?

✅ Before You Answer

• Be clear on which is physically fixed to the ship (the bowl and lubber line) and which is free to float and align with magnetic north (the compass card) • Visualize the relative motion: if the ship’s bow swings clockwise (to starboard), how must the card appear to move relative to the lubber line? • Remember that the compass card always tries to stay aligned with magnetic north, not with the ship’s fore‑and‑aft line