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Why Do People Use the Compass?

The compass is used for navigation, location and direction. People use it to find their way, whether it is on a hiking trail or on a trip to a new location. It is an instrument composed of a suspended magnetic pointer that is attracted to the polarity of the North Pole. A precisely measured scale is used to mark the directions, relative to the north. Through a slight left or right turn, a compass will accurately point to the North Pole and identify the angles of the other cardinal directions.

Identification
- The magnetic needle floats upon an axis, inside a compass apparatus, to easily align with the earth's magnetic pulls.
History
- The compass was invented in the second century in China. It was first used to align structural and building elements with the environment.
Time Frame
- It wouldn't be until the 11th century that the compass was used for navigation. The first navigational compass produced by China consisted of a bowl of water with a floating magnetic needle.
Significance
- In 1282, Al-Ashraf of Persia was the first to be recorded as using a compass for study of astronomy.
  The astronomical compass would be further developed using the earth's magnetic pull and a time-keeping mechanism to calculate the direction of Mecca for the obligatory Islamic prayers. It also acted as a timekeeper that indicated the time of the five daily prayers.
Function
- Besides navigation, the compass is used in building and construction for marking landmarks and borders, and to measure horizontal lines and vertical lines for maps.
  The compass is a valuable tool used in the U.S. military, as well as in mining to assist in underground navigation.

Astronomy