Meaning of compass (what is it, concept and definition)

What is Compass:

A compass is an orientation instrument, which allows the traveler to locate himself spatially with respect to magnetic north by means of a magnetized needle. It is a fundamental instrument for sailors, hikers, pilots, hunters, explorers, etc.

The first compass emerged in China. It was used primarily as a navigation instrument that allowed overseas travelers to orient themselves in space and define the path to follow, but it was not infallible. Over time, other compass systems were developed.

Parts of a compass

There are different types of compasses. All of them basically share three fundamental elements: a base with a ruler and a reference arrow; a limbus or graduated disc that rotates on its own axis and a magnetized needle pointing north.

Types of compass

Today there are many varieties of compasses available, as systems have been refined with the advancement of technology. Within the basic range of compasses, the following can be mentioned:

Magnetic compass

The magnetic compass, the oldest of all, allows orientation through the magnetized needle system that points towards the north magnetic pole of the earth, that is, from the identification of the earth's magnetic field.

Gyroscopic compass

The gyroscopic compass or gyro compass always faces the geographic north and not the magnetic one, since it uses a set of rings and a disc aligned according to an axis of rotation, the inner and outer axis, which are perpendicular to each other.

Other types of compasses can be the limbo compass, the slow compass, the map compass, the electronic compass and the mobile phone compass. The latter depends on the availability of the network at the location of the scan, so it can be insecure.

See also GPS.