Finding Direction Part 1 Navigation Comic Question Explain

Finding Direction Part 1

Navigation Comic Question: Explain the humor in the comic!

Shadow Stick Method • Find a flat piece of ground. Find a stick about 12” to 1 yard long and stick or hold it upright in the ground. • Mark the tip of the shadow with a stick or stone, wait about 30 minutes and do the same again. • A line drawn between the two points will run from west to east, with the first point being west.

• The line drawn from one tip of the shadow to the other tip o the shadow is an accurate east-west line.

Manmade Compass: Magnetism The wire, leaf and water method works just like a compass. Pool some water in an area shielded from wind and place a straight piece of wire on a leaf or small piece of wood floating in a puddle or a bowl. Generate a magnetic field with your hair, magnet or silk scarf by rubbing. When suspended on a leaf, the wire and leaf will slowly swing to your north/south line. Then, save the wire, eat the leaf, drink the water and get moving!

Questions 1. What are 2 disadvantages of using the shadow stick method? 2. What are 2 disadvantages of using the manmade compass method? 3. If you don’t have a paper clip, what else can you use to do the magnetism experiment? Think of 2 other items. 4. If you don’t have a leaf available, what else can you use to put your wire on? Think of 2 other items.

Finding Direction Part 21 Part 1

Watch Method -Hold the watch parallel to the ground and point the hour hand at the sun. -Bisect the angle between the hour hand the 12 o'clock mark to get the north-south line

Watch Method

Using Stars • Polaris is the North Star. All constellations revolve around Polaris • Cassiopeia is a 'W' shaped constellation across the North Star from the Big Dipper • The Big Dipper and the Little Dipper are constellations that form the shape of a ladle

The North Star in the northern hemisphere can be found by locating the Big Dipper and following the two points at the end of the spoon side to the brightest star at the end of the handle on the Little Dipper

Other Navigational Clues How to Find South: • The growth rings on cut tree stumps tend to be the widest on the south side • The color and texture of tree bark may reveal north and south. Northern exposure tends to be smoother with a more solid color d/t rain/snow/wind erosion • The south side of trees is often lighter and rougher as a result of more exposure to direct sunlight • Tree branches tend to grow larger and thicker on the south side • Spiders tend to weave their webs on the south side of trees or shrubs • Most moss grows best on the north sides of trees out of direct sunlight in moist cooler conditions