Trigonometry in Navigation

Navigation is the process to accurately determine one’s position and planning a route for the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. Navigation also refers to the specialised knowledge used by navigators to perform navigational tasks. Navigational techniques involve locating  positions compared to known locations and patterns as well as determining the distance between places. Modern navigation rely on   satellites to determine positions and to travel by sea and by air.

Trigonometry is fundamental to navigation. Trigonometry is used extensively in calculations referring to Cartesian coordinates. Cartesian coordinates are used to represent North, South, East and West directions. Through the use of Trigonometry the distance between objects, the required direction and a vessel’s or aircraft’s bearings can be calculated.

Compasses and Direction

A compass is a navigational instrument that shows four direction points. These points are North, South, East and West. A compass rose, showing these directions is drawn on the compass with ‘N’ signifying North. Compasses are essential in Navigation for it determines bearings and  which way to travel. Before the compass, the position and direction at sea was done by the sighting of landmarks and celestial bodies ( stars).

The invention of the compass enabled a heading to be determined when bad weather occurred in addition to latitude and longitude.  Without the compass people could not accurately navigate away from land and therefore not engage in trade with other nations.