Bearings

Understanding Bearings

  • Get to grips with bearings as a method of describing a direction based on angles.
  • Know that bearings are always measured in degrees.
  • Understand that bearings are given as a three-figure number (for instance, 005°, not 5°).

Measuring Bearings

  • Recognise bearings as measured from the North line, which is a vertical line pointing upwards on a diagram.
  • Understand that measurements continue in a clockwise direction, from north around to east, south, west, and coming back to north.

Reading Bearings

  • Define a bearing from one point A to another point B as the angle measured clockwise from the north line at A to the line segment AB.
  • Be aware that bearings are always read looking outwards from the specified point.

Using Bearings in Navigation

  • Understand how bearings are applied in real world scenarios such as navigation.
  • Acknowledge that bearings can be used to give the direction of travel, or the direction from one point to another.

Investigating Bearings

  • Develop the skill to use rulers and protractors to measure distances and angles on scale diagrams.
  • Learn to calculate bearings when given other bearings and angles or when working with triangles.
  • Contrast the way bearings are described (using three digits) with the way normal angles are usually described (using two digits).

Applying Bearings in Geometry

  • Recognise that bearings can be determined using properties of parallel lines and alternate angles.
  • Understand that bearings allow calculation or determination of other angles in geometric problems, and vice versa.
  • Remember that understanding and ability to use bearings are essential for solving many geometric and navigational problems.