🔍 Key Concepts
• Magnetic deviation and how it differs from variation
• How the effect of a ship’s magnetism on the compass is expressed in standard compass correction formulas
• The traditional names given to the individual terms in the deviation formula (often labeled A, B, C, D, E, etc.)
💭 Think About
• Think about math and physics: when you break a total effect into several directional or angular parts, what are those parts usually called in equations?
• Recall how deviation is written as a function of the ship’s heading (for example, involving sine and cosine terms) — what is each multiplier of those functions called?
• When reading a deviation table or doing a compass adjustment, what word is used for each of the labeled magnetic components A, B, C, etc.?
✅ Before You Answer
• Verify which option is commonly used in navigation texts to describe the A, B, C, D, E magnetic terms of deviation.
• Eliminate any answer choices that are not standard mathematical/physical terminology for parts of an equation.
• Be sure the term you pick is something you’ve actually seen associated with compass deviation in compass adjustment or magnetic deviation formula discussions.