Coz, once you land at South pole you dont know which is east or which is west, even a magnetic compass will not work... the same results wen u happen to cross North pole...
So any one here knows how to track the same direction?
2006-10-04 06:04:08 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
You need to specify which of the poles you are referring to - as there are 2 poles at both the South and North Poles: the rotational axis of the earth and the magnetic pole. They are currently over 1000 km apart.
The magnetic pole wanders in an elliptical path each day due to secular variation, and moves, on the average, more than forty meters northward each day. It is currently located at 79.74°N, 71.78°W which is in Canada's arctic islands.
The rotational poles are fixed due to the earth's great mass and therefore are used in cartography. All lines of longitude converge at the rotational poles.
There are some additional poles, but they are rarely used in science and navigation.
If, for example, you were to land in a helicopter at the rotational north pole (the north pole which is referred to as true north), any direction you walk would be south. There is no north, east, or west at the north pole. But the "north" arrow on your compass would point to near Ellesmere Island, which is south.
If you were to land on the magnetic north pole near Ellesmere Island, your compass would act very erratically as the magnetic field there dips vertically. However, true direction (N,S,E,W) would still apply.
Navigation by magnetic compass in extreme northern and southern latitudes is difficult. Before the advent of GPS, celestial navigation was the only way to establish a reasonably accurate position and direction.
Watch out for Santa Claus!
2006-10-04 22:40:09 · answer #1 · answered by minefinder 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just walk in any direction from the North Pole and you are travelling South. When you get about 100 miles South use your Compass to find East or West. The same principle for the South Pole only that you would be travelling North...........
2006-10-04 06:07:57 · answer #2 · answered by thomasrobinsonantonio 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use a clock, and the stars. "Stars" includes the Sun if it happens to be visible. The direction of the sun or other stellar objects is entirely predictable, and may be used as a compass if you know what time it is.
2006-10-04 06:08:03 · answer #3 · answered by poorcocoboiboi 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use a GPS device.
use a clock and the location of the sun or stars
2006-10-04 06:07:25 · answer #4 · answered by DanE 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋