The compass card remains lined up with which reference direction?

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Multiple Choice

The compass card remains lined up with which reference direction?

A compass works by aligning with Earth’s magnetic field, so the reference direction the compass card lines up with is Magnetic North. The magnetized needle points toward the magnetic north pole, which is the direction the card’s north marking aligns to as you read it. True north (the geographic North Pole) differs from magnetic north by magnetic declination, which varies by location and over time. Celestial north isn’t involved in how a standard compass functions. So the correct reference direction for the compass card is magnetic north. When using a map that’s oriented to true north, you’d adjust for declination to convert between magnetic north readings and true north.

A compass works by aligning with Earth’s magnetic field, so the reference direction the compass card lines up with is Magnetic North. The magnetized needle points toward the magnetic north pole, which is the direction the card’s north marking aligns to as you read it.

True north (the geographic North Pole) differs from magnetic north by magnetic declination, which varies by location and over time. Celestial north isn’t involved in how a standard compass functions. So the correct reference direction for the compass card is magnetic north. When using a map that’s oriented to true north, you’d adjust for declination to convert between magnetic north readings and true north.

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