what's the difference between true, magnetic, and compass north? how do u convert it from one to another?

Question

i'm 12, and i'm in the navy cadets, recently, the instructors hav been teaching us about the true north, compass north, and magnetic north during navigation lesson so we'll be ready to sail during the summer. but i just don't get the difference between the three and how you convert it from one to another. so can someone please explain the difference between the three and the convertion to me in a way so a 12 year old will understand. thanks a million!

Answer 1

It is well explained here:
http://powerboat.about.com/od/navigation/a/truenorth_wayup.htm
I hope it helps.

Answer 2

Magnetic north and compass north are the same. This is the direction that a compass points to. The only problem is that the earths center of magnetism (the place that the compass points to), and the north pole (true north) are not the same place. magnetic north is a few degrees off of true. Imagine a globe, true north is where the top axil is. Magnetic north is just off this point. So a compass will point to that spot and NOT the north pole (true north). Charts have the number of degrees of correction from mag to true. Here in Ca. its about 5.5 degrees. Further west it's more further east it less. There is one line of latitude that runs thru the north pole and the magnetic pole where magnetic north = compass north = true north. Use your globe to see this