My second grade class asked me this. I do not know, and I cannot find the answer. Can anyone help?
2006-12-18 15:11:12 · 3 answers · asked by Merissa R 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
Probably because it is how it was always done. I don't think that there is a logical purpose for doing it that way.
Although, since a compass is pulled by the magentic field either in the northernly or southernly direction (depending on the polarization of the field at that time period, gotta love a flipping magnetic field eh?), then that would make sense to be the way to say it since that is the most acurate direction and east and west are merely in relation to those two points.
And...
Because we can can can! Because we can can can!! lol
Haha, after seeing Amy's repsonse I'm going to break into another song:
"Tradition! Tradition!"
lol.
2006-12-18 15:15:08 · answer #1 · answered by Mike J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You always say North or South first. East and West always comes second. A compass only points 2 directions, North and South. You know where East and West are based on where the compass is pointing.
2006-12-18 23:16:21 · answer #2 · answered by cheasy123 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Mike. It's probably just tradition.
2006-12-18 23:57:01 · answer #3 · answered by Amy F 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋