Practical skills (part 3)
Marjorie Henry, Contributor

In the last lesson I gave you an exercise to indicate the different compass directions. I hope you were able to complete it without referring to the diagram as I had suggested. Here are the answers.

1. SE is halfway between ESE and SSE and opposite NW.

2. SW is halfway between WSW and SSW and opposite NE.

3. NNW is halfway between NW and N and opposite SSE.

4. SSW is halfway between S and SW and opposite NNE.

5. SSE is halfway between SE and S and opposite NNW.

6. WNW is halfway between NW and W and opposite ESE.

7. WSW is halfway between W and SW and opposite ENE.

In a second exercise, you should have followed the steps outlined to arrive at your answers for the direction of some points on a given sketch map. Since the direction is estimated, some variation is allowed in your answer. Here are the possible answers:

(i) The school is south-east from the village.

(ii) The play ground is north-north west from the school.

(iii) The village is west from the playground.

(iv) The road is south from the village?

At the beginning of the discussion on directions, it was stated that directions may be expressed by reference to compass points or in terms of angular bearings. Having discussed compass directions, let us now turn our attention to angular bearings.

Angular bearings are measured from the north round towards the east, in other words, in a clockwise direction. This means that the bearing of a point due east is 90¡, of a point due west is 2700, and of a point WNW, 292.50, and so on. Using the same diagram given in the last lesson, let us now work out the angular bearing from Point A to Point B. Here is the diagram again.

You will need your protractor to calculate angular bearings. Here is the procedure to do it. Note that the first two steps are similar to that of estimating compass directions.

Step 1

At the point named after the word 'from', draw a N - S line and then

a W - E line. In this situation, it would be drawn at Point A.

Step 2

Extend a line from the point where the two lines intersect to Point B.

Step 3

Place the centre of your protractor at Point A where the two lines intersect. Read off the degrees of the angle formed.

Your possible answer is 560. You are allowed a margin of error of one degree, plus or minus, so it could be 550 or 570. Now practise computing the angular bearings for the following points on the diagram.

1. The school from the village. (Use X as your point)

2. The reservoir from the village.

3. The farm shed from the disused windmill. (Use X as your point)

4. Town B from the disused windmill.

Here are your possible answers:

1. The school from the village is 430

2. The reservoir from the village is 1650.

3. The farm shed from the disused windmill is 2320.

4. Town B from the disused windmill is 900.

Let me encourage you to do further exercises on directions by referring to any available map. By so doing, you will perfect your skill of stating directions.

Marjorie Henry is an independent contributor. Send questions and comments to kerry-ann.hepburn@gleanerjm.com