Bearings

Understanding Bearings

Defining Bearings

• A bearing is an angle that measures the direction of one point from another, using due north as a reference point.
• Bearings are always measured in a clockwise direction.
• Each bearing is a three-digit number between 000 and 360.

Important Points About Bearings

• If the bearing is less than 360 degrees when measured in a clockwise direction, we can refer to it as an acute bearing.
• At times, the approach to finding bearings involves identifying or measuring angles in a triangle.

Methods of Calculating Bearings

• Bearings should be calculated by moving in a clockwise direction from due north.
• For instance, if you are asked to find the bearing from A to B, the bearing should be measured from the north line at A, moving in a clockwise direction towards the line from A to B.
• To negate a bearing (find the opposite direction), take the current bearing, subtract it from 360 if it’s more than 180, or add 180 if it’s less than 180.

Practical Applications of Bearings

• Knowledge of bearings are extensively used in navigation, aviation, and shipping to understand or plot directions.
• When bearing problems are combined with other aspects, such as the laws of Sin, Cos, and Tan, more complex navigation problems can be solved.

Bearings display the practical application of angles in real-world situations. Mastering the concept becomes straightforward with consistent practice and focus.