16 Magnetic Compost Ion

Navigation
NAU 102
Lesson 17
Interpolation
Much of navigation uses tables.
DEVIATION TABLE
MAG HDG DEV
300° 3°E
315° 0°
330° 1°W
e.g. What is the deviation when heading 300°M?
Ans: 3°E
Interpolation
What if what we are looking for

falls between table values?
We must interpolate.
Definition: to estimate the value of a

function between two known values.
Interpolation
DEVIATION TABLE
MAG HDG DEV
300° 3°E
315° 0°
330° 1°W
e.g. What is the deviation when heading
305°M?
300°M = 3°E 315°M = 0°
305°M = ?
Interpolation

305°M?
Step 1: Determine intervals between known
table values
300° 3° E
15° 305° ? 3°
315° 0°
Interpolation

305°M?
Step 2: Determine interval between base
table values and desired values
300° 3° E
5° X
15° 305° ? 3°
315° 0°
Interpolation

305°M?
Step 3: Compute the ratio to solve for X.
300° 3 °E
5° X
15° 305° ? 3°
315° 0°
5° X
= X = 1°
15° 3°
Interpolation

305°M?
Step 4: Apply resulting interval (X) to base
value.
300° 3° E
5° 1°
15° 305° 2°E 3°
315° 0°
Interpolation
160°M?
Magnetic Deviation Magnetic Deviation Magnetic Deviation
Heading Heading Heading
0° 4.0° W 120° 2.0° W 240° 6.0° E
15° 4.0° W 135° 1.5° W 255° 4.5° E
30° 3.5° W 150° 0.5° W 270° 3.0° E
45° 3.0° W 165° 1.5° E 285° 0.5° E
60° 2.5° W 180° 4.5° E 300° 1.0° W
75° 2.5° W 195° 5.5° E 315° 2.5° W
90° 2.0° W 210° 6.5° E 330° 3.5° W
105° 2.0° W 225° 6.5° E 345° 4.0° W
Gyrocompass
An Electronic
Compass
Points to true North
Works on the
principle of the
gyroscope.
Gyroscope
Components
Wheel (or Rotor)
Mounted on a spin axis.
Supported by gimbals:
Torque axis
Precession axis
Gyroscope
Gyroscopic Inertia
When the wheel spins at

high rpm, it will tend to
maintain its orientation
in space.
Gyroscope
Gyroscopic Inertia
Unfortunately,
for our purposes,
it doesn’t
maintain its
orientation
relative to the
Earth.
Precession
The Gyroscope must be forced to point
to true north.
When a force is applied to a gyroscope,
the movement is 90° from the direction of
the applied force.
The force is called “torque”.
The movement is called “precession”.

Precession
The torque is provided by the rotating
Earth.
Since the Earth rotates East-West, the gyro

is precessed 90° to the North-South axis.
Weights are added to the axes to keep the
rotor horizontal to the Earth and to cause
the gyrocompass to seek true north.
Errors
Latitude Error – torque caused by Earth’s
rotation is greatest at the equator.
Higher the latitude = less precession. Therefore,
the gyro tends to fall off of true north.
Gyrocompasses need to be adjusted for latitude
changes. Manual or automatic adjustment,
depending on the model.
Accuracy decreases above 75° latitude.

Errors
Speed Error – torque (weights, etc) are applied
based on Earth’s East-West rotation.
When the ship’s heading has North-South

components, the compass settles off of true north.
The faster the North-South change, the larger

the error.
Gyrocompass
One or more north-

seeking gyroscopes.
Housing, electrical
supply and control
elements.
Gyrocompass
Must spin up and

settle on the
meridian.
Takes up to four hours
to settle.
Usually left on unless
in port for long
periods.
Advantages Over Magnetic
Seeks true meridian. No need to apply

variation.
Can be used near the magnetic poles.
Not affected by ship’s magnetism.

Deviation corrections are unnecessary.
Output can be sent to other electronic

devices (e.g. automatic pilot, radar, etc.)
Gyrocompass Repeaters
A remote indication of
the reading of the master
gyrocompass.
Usually on bridge wings

and helm console.
Disadvantages
Expensive
Maintenance and repairs are more
complicated.
Needs electricity
If operation is interrupted, requires

several hours to settle.
Gyros Can Fail!
Regularly compare the gyro and

magnetic compasses.
Insert Sea Story here.

“the failure of a ship’s gyro went undetected for
a period of over twelve hours, with the result
that, at the time of grounding the vessel was
more than 110° off course and more than 200
miles out of position” – Dutton’s, pg. 82
Introduction to Navigation
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Navigation

What if what we are looking for

Definition: to estimate the value of a

e.g. What is the deviation when heading

e.g. What is the deviation when heading

e.g. What is the deviation when heading

e.g. What is the deviation when heading

Points to true North

Mounted on a spin axis.

When the wheel spins at

The movement is called “precession”.

Since the Earth rotates East-West, the gyro

Accuracy decreases above 75° latitude.

When the ship’s heading has North-South

The faster the North-South change, the larger

One or more north-

Must spin up and

Seeks true meridian. No need to apply

Not affected by ship’s magnetism.

Output can be sent to other electronic

Usually on bridge wings

If operation is interrupted, requires

Regularly compare the gyro and

Insert Sea Story here.

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