Q1A: Explanation of Terms
1. Latitude: Angular distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees.
2. Longitude: Angular distance east or west of the Prime Meridian, measured in degrees.
3. Knot: A unit of speed equivalent to one nautical mile per hour.
4. International Nautical Mile: Equal to 1,852 meters (about 1.15 statute miles).
5. Rhumb Line: A line crossing all meridians at the same angle, representing constant compass direction.
6. Departure: East-west distance between two points on the same latitude.
7. Meridional Parts: Units of measurement used in Mercator charts, representing latitude differences corrected for Earth's curvat
8. Great Circle: The shortest route between two points on the surface of a sphere.
9. Cable: Equal to one-tenth of a nautical mile or 185.2 meters.
10. Geographical Mile: One minute of arc along the equator, approximately 1,855 meters.
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11. Deviation: The error in compass reading caused by magnetic influences on the vessel.
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12. Isogonic Lines: Lines on a chart showing points of equal magnetic variation.
13. Leeway: The sideways drift of a ship due to wind or current.
14. DR Position (Dead Reckoning): Position estimated based on course steered and distance traveled, without external fixes.
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15. Transit Bearing: A bearing taken along a line of sight between two fixed landmarks.
16. Compass Error: Combination of variation and deviation affecting compass readings.
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17. Current: Horizontal movement of water in the ocean.
18. Set: The direction toward which the current flows.
19. Drift: The speed of the current relative to the vessel.
20. Estimated Position (EP): The probable position considering DR, set, and drift.
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Q2: Mercator Projection and Comparison with Gnomonic Chart
- Mercator Projection: A cylindrical map projection where meridians and parallels are straight lines. It preserves direction (rhumb
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Comparison:
Feature | Mercator Chart | Gnomonic Chart
Projection Type | Cylindrical | Azimuthal
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Shape Accuracy | Accurate for small areas | Distorted, especially away from center
Distance | Distorted | Great circles as straight lines
Navigation Use | Suitable for rhumb line sailing | Used for plotting great circles
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Q3: Properties of a Mercator Chart
1. Meridians are equally spaced vertical lines.
2. Parallels of latitude are horizontal, spaced wider toward the poles.
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3. Rhumb lines appear straight.
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4. Angles between lines are preserved (conformal projection).
5. Scale increases with latitude.
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Q4: Natural Scale of a Chart
The natural scale is the ratio of a distance on the chart to the corresponding distance on Earth's surface, expressed as a fraction
Q5: Gnomonic Chart and Its Advantages/Disadvantages
- Gnomonic Chart: A projection that represents great circles as straight lines.
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Advantages:
- Simplifies plotting of great-circle routes.
- Useful for long-distance navigation.
Disadvantages:
- Distorts size and shape, especially away from the center.
- Not suitable for detailed navigation.
Q6: Great Circle and Its Properties
- Definition: The largest possible circle on a sphere's surface, with its center coinciding with the sphere's center.
- Properties:
1. Shortest distance between two points on a sphere.
2. Divides the sphere into two equal hemispheres.
3. Its plane passes through the sphere's center.
Q7: Composite Great Circle Sailing
This method combines great-circle and rhumb-line segments to avoid extreme latitudes or obstacles. It is practical for long voya
Q8: The Vertex in a Great Circle
The vertex is the point of highest latitude on a great-circle route. It is essential for navigation planning as it helps avoid high-latitu
Q9: Properties of a Spherical Triangle
1. Formed by arcs of great circles intersecting on a sphere.
2. The sum of its angles is greater than 180 degrees and less than 540 degrees.
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3. The sides are measured in angular degrees.
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Q10: Right-Angled Spherical Triangle
- Definition: A spherical triangle with one 90-degree angle.
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- Properties:
1. The hypotenuse is the side opposite the right angle.
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2. Napier’s rules apply to calculate angles and sides.
Q11: Practical Steps for Great Circle Navigation
1. Plot the great-circle route using a gnomonic chart.
2. Divide the route into smaller segments for practical use.
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3. Convert the segments into a Mercator chart.
4. Check GPS and adjust course for currents and leeway.
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Q12: Different Types of Sailings
1. Plane Sailing: Assumes a flat Earth for short distances.
2. Parallel Sailing: Follows a specific latitude.
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3. Mercator Sailing: Uses Mercator charts for course and distance.
4. Great Circle Sailing: Shortest route between two points.
5. Composite Sailing: Combines great-circle and rhumb-line routes.
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