Before reading this guide, it may be helpful to read the guide from M1 on angles.
Bearings
Suppose you were in the middle of nowhere, and there were no signs or landmarks to help you find your way.
Would you know how to find your way home?
Someone might tell you via phone or radio to 'walk to your left', or 'turn through \({60}^\circ\) and then start walking', but how would they know which way you were pointing in the first place?
One way of describing direction from a point is to use three-figure bearings.
Key fact
Bearings are always described using three figures.
So for less than 100° put an appropriate number of 0s in front, eg 020°, 037°, 002°, 007°.
Example
An aeroplane takes off from Belfast International airport, as shown in the diagram below.
The angle between the north line and the flight path of the aeroplane is \({30}^\circ\).
So we can say that the aeroplane is flying on a bearing of \({030}^\circ\) from Belfast International airport.
Example
A ship sails from a harbour H to a port P, as shown in the diagram.
To calculate the bearing subtract \(50^\circ\) from \(360^\circ\) to find the reflex angle (labelled H) as bearings must be given in a clockwise direction from north.
The direction the ship sailed can be given as a bearing of \(310^\circ\).
More on M6: Geometry and measures
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