Bearings

Navigating with angles

An interactive lesson with 7 steps, about 6 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• Bearings are measured clockwise from north, as three digits.
• Distance $d$ on bearing $\theta$: $d\sin\theta$ east, $d\cos\theta$ north.
• Back bearing = bearing ± 180°. Combine legs with components or the law of cosines.

Steps

1. Clockwise from north
2. South-west
3. Heading east
4. Set a course
5. The way back
6. A dog-leg
7. Heading home