2006-07-08 17:53:29 · 6 answers · asked by applepie 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The magnetic north pole, which actually changes position, is currently at about 82.10 degrees north in latitude. Subtracting that from true north (90 degrees) yields a 7.90 degree difference. Pretty close for use with a compass.
2006-07-08 17:59:01 · answer #1 · answered by Ѕємι~Мαđ ŠçїєŋŧιѕТ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The difference is called the "magnetic deviation" and it depends on where you are. The magnetic north pole is about a thousand miles away from the geographic north pole, and currently lies in extreme northeastern Canada. If you are due south of this point, the magnetic deviation is zero. As you move west, the deviation is to the east and increases to a maximum, then actually decreases again to zero when you reach a longitude exactly 180 degrees from the longitude of the magnetic north pole. Of course, this is reversed if you travel east.
Note also that latitude is very important. The magnetic deviations are smaller at the equator and much larger if you are far north or south of the equator because the angular difference between the magnetic and geographic north pole is greatest in far northern latitudes. (In the southern hemisphere, think about the southern poles.)
I've included links to two web sites that have maps of magnetic deviations.
2006-07-08 18:12:33 · answer #2 · answered by not_2_worried 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check your map for "Magnetic Deviation".
It depends on where you are on the globe. Think of it this way, if you are at point A, Magnetic north is point B and true north as point C, you would form a triangle. Since points B and C don't move, when point A does change so does the angle in relation to points C and B.
2006-07-08 19:22:17 · answer #3 · answered by boter_99 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on where you are at. The term you are looking for is MAGNETIC DECLINATION. I live only a few miles from the 0 degree line and am actually at a -2.2 degree offset where I'm at.
Go to this web site. Click on the link specified in STEP 1 to calculate your offset.
http://www.thecompassstore.com/decvar.html#
2006-07-08 18:01:09 · answer #4 · answered by hack_ace 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends on where you are, for where i am in eastern PA its usually about 11 degrees but it varies in different areas. it will usually tell you on a good map, so if you get one of your area or the area that you need to find it should tell you the difference between the two
2006-07-08 17:57:42 · answer #5 · answered by Newtibourne 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A description can be found at:
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/seg/geomag/declination.shtml
And a computation can be performed at:
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/seg/geomag/jsp/Declination.jsp
2006-07-08 18:01:36 · answer #6 · answered by SleeplessInWarwick 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋