Compass Anatomy and Use
The part of the compass that points to magnetic north.
What is the magnetic needle?
The lines on a topographic map represent equal elevation.
What are contour lines?
The three-leg walk that helps scouts learn to follow different bearings and return to the start.
What is the triangle walk?
The compass, map, and navigation tools are part of this set of ten crucial items for BSA scouts.
What are the Ten Essentials?
These are the four main directions on a compass: North, South, East, and West.
What are the cardinal directions?
This feature on a baseplate compass is used to align with map grid lines to determine a bearing.
What is a straightedge.
A map feature that tells you what symbols represent, such as a blue line for a stream.
What is the legend or key?
This is a method used to measure distance on the ground by counting steps.
What is pacing?
A compass that has this allows you to see your bearing while aiming at a distant object.
What is a mirror or sighting tool?
This specific direction corresponds to a bearing of 90 degrees.
What is East?
When using a compass, you must hold it perfectly in this position to get an accurate reading.
What is a flat/level?
To align your map with the terrain, you must do this to the map.
What is orient the map?
This is a term involving navigating a course using a map and compass.
What is orienteering?
You should never store your compass near these items, as they can damage the polarity of the needle.
What are magnets?
Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and Northwest are known by this collective name.
What are intercardinal points?
This term refers to the difference between true north and magnetic north, which must be accounted for on maps.
What is declination?
This is the measurement of the distance between contour lines, indicating steepness.
What is the contour interval?
When returning to your starting point, you should follow this, which is 180 degrees opposite your initial bearing.
What is a back bearing?
This type of specialized map shows the contour of the land, including hills and valleys.
If you are facing West, this is the degree directly to your left.
What is 180 degrees or South?
To follow a bearing while blindfolded, a Scout must keep the red needle aligned with this feature on the compass housing.
What is the orienteering arrow?
The distance between points of a map is determined using this tool, often found on the map's legend.
What is the map scale?
A 10-mile hike or 5-mile bike ride, using a map and compass, is required for this rank.
What is the Second Class Rank?
While useful, this device should never be solely relied upon as it requires batteries and can fail.
What is a GPS?
This is the exact degree heading for the intercardinal point South-Southwest.
What is 202.5 degrees?