USA HISTORY

FIRST CONTACTS 28000 BCE 1821 CE

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
What device helped Europeans navigate at sea by using a magnetized needle that points to a coordinate direction?
A
Steam Engine
B
Compass
C
Astrolabe
D
Rudder
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -The compass rose, as it was sometimes called, usually had thirty-two points 11.25 degrees apart-north, north by east, north by northeast, and so on.

Detailed explanation-2: -Very early compasses were made of a magnetized needle attached to a piece of wood or cork that floated freely in a dish of water. As the needle would settle, the marked end would point toward magnetic north.

Detailed explanation-3: -A sextant is a traditional navigational tool. It measures the angle between two objects, such as the horizon and a celestial object such as a star or planet. This angle can then be used to calculate the ship’s position on a nautical chart.

Detailed explanation-4: -Compass | navigational instrument | Britannica.

Detailed explanation-5: -The magnetic compass relies on the magnetic pull from the magnetic north pole, and was a tool that the explorers acquired from China. Simply put, it was a vital invention that was crucial for sailors to know in which direction they were going, which made for a more efficient and safer voyage.

There is 1 question to complete.