Know how to find north without a compass?

Question

I have a frdidge magnet if that helps.

Answer 1

map,

Answer 2

Big Dipper and Polaris In the northern hemisphere, there is a star that is almost exactly in the north at all times, the Polaris. It is pretty easy to find, if you know the "Big Dipper". (Everybody knows the Big Dipper (or the Plough)?) Take the two stars at the end of the "Big Dipper", and make an imaginary line "upwards", and extend it five times the distance between the two stars. There you have it - Polaris. That way is always north.

1. Place a straight stick straight upright in the ground so that you can see its shadow. Alternatively, you can use the shadow of a fixed object that is perpendicular to the ground. Nearly any object will work, but the taller the object is, the easier it will be to see the movement of its shadow, and the narrower the tip of the object is, the more accurate the reading will be. Make sure the shadow is cast on a level, brush-free spot.
2. Mark the tip of the shadow with a small object, such as a pebble, or a distinct scratch in the ground. Try to make the mark as small as possible so as to pinpoint the shadow's tip, but make sure you can identify the mark later.
3. Wait 10-15 minutes. The shadow will move approximately from west to east in an arc which depends on your latitude and the season.
4. Mark the new position of the shadow's tip with another small object or scratch. It will likely move only a short distance.
5. Draw a straight line in the ground through the two marks. This is an east-to-west line.
6. Stand with the first mark (west) on your left, and the other (east) on your right. You are now facing approximately toward true north. (Accuracy improves as your location approaches the equator, and as the time of year approaches either equinox.)

Answer 3

1. Go outside in the sun. The best time is around noon.

2. Plant a stick in the ground at an angle so a shadow is formed straight away from the stick.

3. Mark the end of the stick's shadow with a small rock.

4. Wait 10 minutes (or longer) The shadow will move.

5. Mark the end of the stick's new shadow with another rock.

6. The line in between the 2 rocks is East and West (the first rock is West)

7. A line perpendicular to the rock-line is North and South. If you are in the Northern hemisphere (like the US or Europe), then the stick is Southerly and the shadow is Northerly.

Answer 4

Heres a couple of ways to find out, check out the website if you want to check out a few other methods as well.
http://www.wikihow.com/Find-True-North-Without-a-Compass

The Shadow-Tip Method

- Place a straight stick straight upright in the ground so that you can see its shadow. Alternatively, you can use the shadow of a fixed object that is perpendicular to the ground. Nearly any object will work, but the taller the object is, the easier it will be to see the movement of its shadow, and the narrower the tip of the object is, the more accurate the reading will be. Make sure the shadow is cast on a level, brush-free spot.

- Mark the tip of the shadow with a small object, such as a pebble, or a distinct scratch in the ground. Try to make the mark as small as possible so as to pinpoint the shadow's tip, but make sure you can identify the mark later.
Wait 10-15 minutes. The shadow will move approximately from west to east in an arc which depends on your latitude and the season.

- Mark the new position of the shadow's tip with another small object or scratch. It will likely move only a short distance.

- Draw a straight line in the ground through the two marks. This is an east-to-west line.
- Stand with the first mark (west) on your left, and the other (east) on your right. You are now facing approximately toward true north. (Accuracy improves as your location approaches the equator, and as the time of year approaches either equinox.)

Alternative Shadow-Tip Method for Increased Accuracy

- The Shadow-tip method. Set up stick and mark first shadow-tip as above. For this method, take your first reading in the morning, at least an hour or so before midday.

- Find an object or length of string, etc., exactly the same length as the shadow.
- Continue taking measurements of the shadow's length every 10-20 minutes. The shadow will shrink until midday, when it is at its shortest. Then it will gradually grow longer.

- Measure the shadow length as the shadow grows. Use the stick or object you used to measure the length of the initial shadow.
- When the shadow grows to exactly the same length as the stick (and hence exactly the same length as your first measurement), mark the spot.

- Draw a line connecting the first and second marks as above. Once again, this is your east-west line, and if you stand with the first mark on your left and the second on your right, you will be facing in the approximate direction of true north. (Note: for an exact reading, your two marks need to be made at exact intervals before and after noon where you are, which means when the sun is at its highest point in the sky.
Any deviation from this leads to inaccuracy.)

Answer 5

Fridge magnet won't work - no identifiable poles. A bar magnet would work.... got one around??? Just hang it by a thread from it's middle and let it swing.... it'll settle down and point north/south.

Finding Polaris (the "north star") is easy on a clear night, but it is not magnetic north.....

Answer 6

You could use your magnet to construct a compass, but there are other ways to proceed. If it is daytime, and you can see the sun, you can use its position in the sky to determine north. At night, in the northern hemisphere and if it is clear, Polaris will tell you. If it is cloudy, you've got problems.

Answer 7

The north star

Answer 8

Look at the sun, and which way the shadows are going. It rises in the east and sets in the west. Depending on where it is in the sky, you'll be able to find north.

Answer 9

First thing in the morning, observe where the sun is. That is east.

Make a 90 degree turn to your left. You are now facing north.

Answer 10

If you have a watch point the little hand(hour) to the sun and wherever 12 is, that is north!

Answer 11

moss grows on the north side of trees. The sun sets in the west...