One of the basic principles of the Taoist practice of space development, known as "feng shui", is the competent location of your home, as well as the interior inside it, relative to parts of the world. Where is your bed and other pieces of furniture, how is the person during sleep, where are the flowers, in which direction do the doors open, and so on. All this, according to Feng Shui, is important for our lives, contributing to or hindering our happiness and prosperity. But how can you determine where your apartment is north and where is south if you don’t have a standard compass at hand? In this article I will tell you how to determine the cardinal directions in an apartment and use the compass online, and what tools will help us with this.
To determine the location of your apartment relative to the cardinal points, as well as to understand where the windows of your room go, you can use online card from google below.
This card with cardinal directions works correctly with the Google Chrome browser and other browsers on the Chromium core, but the resource has problems when working with Firerox.
The principle of operation of this service is as follows. There is a large compass on the screen, you will only need to find your city on the map, and then your house, and in accordance with the compass image (N-north, S-south, W-west, E-east) see which side of the world the windows of your house are directed to. Then, regarding this, you will be able to understand how well you sleep.
Feng Shui believes that if your head during sleep is located on:
Method number 2. Ask your neighbors where is north and south
If you moved into your house quite recently, then neighbors who have lived nearby for a long time may well know where each of the parts of the world is located relative to your home.
Method number 3. Watch the sunrise and sunset
As you know, our luminary rises in the east and sets in the west. Therefore, if you stand in such a way that your right hand points to the place where the sun rises (to the east), the left hand to the place where the sun sets (to the west), then north will be in front of you, and south will be behind you. And no online compass is needed to determine the cardinal direction in the apartment.
Method number 4. Use a regular needle to determine the part of the world in the apartment
This method involves using instead online compass ordinary magnetized needle. To do this, you will need NOT a metal vessel with water (or oil), some kind of floating material (for example, a piece of wood, foam, a piece of bark, etc.). And also a pre-magnetized ordinary small needle (instead of a standard magnet, you can use ordinary scissors with which you can magnetize the needle). Put a floating material (for example, a sheet) on the liquid in the vessel, and then put a magnetized needle on this floating material.
The needle will turn sides to the north-south. How it looks like, you can see in this video.
Method number 5. We use mobile applications
For mobile gadgets, there are a sufficient number of applications that demonstrate a digital likeness of a compass on user smartphones and are able to set part of the world in your home. It can be " Compass 360 Pro Free" (Android), "" (Android), " Compass" (iTunes), " Free HD Compass" (iTunes) and other analogues. This mechanism works due to the magnetometer, accelerometer, gyroscope and GPS-navigator built into the phone, allowing you to quite correctly display the location of parts of the world.
Mobile application "Compass 360 Pro Free" will show you the location of parts of the world Method number 6. Use a regular watch
If the day is sunny and the sun is shining through your window, then point the hour hand of the clock at the sun. Now if you divide the angle between 12 o'clock and the hour hand in half, then the resulting middle will point to the south.
Conclusion
In this material, I have described several ways to determine the cardinal points in an apartment, as well as the features of working with a compass online. If you need to quickly determine parts of the world, I recommend using the capabilities of this compass, or installing one of the mobile applications I have listed. They will allow you to quickly track the location of the cardinal points in your apartment.
Features of using a compass to determine the cardinal points on the ground, on a map, in an apartment. Instructions for installing and correctly working with the compass on Android and IPhone.
Our attention is attracted by appliances and the benefits of civilization. And only 2-3 centuries ago, people knew more about nature and were able to navigate the terrain, based on observations and signs.
Now it is difficult to imagine a traveler or a geologist without a compass in his hands. This device helps where satellite signals are not caught and there is no Internet.
However, the compass must be handled correctly, as well as being able to interpret its measurements.
How to do this - let's talk in more detail.
The designation of the cardinal directions in English on a compass with translation
the traveler holds a compass in his hand to determine the direction of his movementSince the compass is different, their scales have a different number of marked cardinal directions.
However, the mandatory set is 4 main ones:
- N (North)
- S (South) - south
- E (East)
- W (West) - west
Or the scale shows the cardinal points in the letters of the Russian alphabet, namely the first of the words.
Where are the red and blue compass needles pointing?
red compass needle points north We are used to the fact that on the globe at the top is located North Pole, which is indicated by the blue compass needle, and at the bottom - South. And the red one strives for it.
However, based on the laws of physics, it turns out the opposite. In fact, the blue arrow indicates the location South Pole, and red - North. Because bodies with the same charge repel rather than attract.
Also keep in mind that the North Pole, which is familiar to us, drifts and changes its location not symmetrically to the South. Because the red compass needle really distorts the direction of this part of the world a little.
What is the azimuth in a compass and how to determine it?
the compass is adjusted before determining the bearing The angle formed between the north direction and the object is called the azimuth.
The angle is measured clockwise.
There are 2 ways to determine the azimuth:
- approximate, or by eye
- accurate - with the help of a protractor
In the second case, the arrow pointing north is the "0" mark on the protractor.
How to use a compass in the forest, on the ground?
the compass lies on the grass before determining the cardinal points and orientation on the ground First, check the compass is working:
- put it on a flat horizontal surface and wait for the arrow to stop
- fix its position
- bring any metal object and release the latch
- the needle should oscillate
- quickly remove the object
- if the arrow returned to its original value before the lock was removed, the compass is working
Before entering the forest, determine your direction of movement. Consider it opposite meaning when turning in the opposite direction.
- Attach to a large object in the area. For example, a river, power lines, a wide clearing, roads and paths. Remember that any magnetic sources must be outside the operation of the compass, otherwise its readings will be incorrect.
- Determine the bearing of this object.
- Take it into account when moving in the direction you need.
- Ideal if you have a notepad handy. Keep a record of the number of steps after each turn.
How to use a compass in an apartment?
one of the compass models - for distributing the space of a house / apartment Proceed in steps:
- study your compass, the features of its operation, check it for serviceability
- select a reference point, for example, is it a door or a window
- determine its location, being in the middle of the room
- while holding the compass strictly horizontally, for example, on a book
- lean against the wall so that a right angle forms between them
- the height of the compass in this case is at the level of your waist
- triple check your measurements and choose the average
- keep in mind that household appliances, furniture, metal objects in the apartment create a background for the compass to work correctly
- tolerances for verification measurements are 10-15%
Sometimes, in order to reduce the influence of power lines and home appliances, ha compass, cardinal points are measured at a distance from the house / apartment.
How to determine your location using a compass and a map?
compass and pencil on the map - If both of these items are in your hands, then first open the card and examine it carefully.
- Find the objects marked on it in the area around you.
- Rotate the map so that they match in location relative to you.
There are several ways to determine your location on the map:
- for nearby facilities
- distant
- direction of movement along the road, path, clearing
When you have completed this step, place the card on the ground.
- Place a compass on top.
- Remove it from the latch.
- Turn your face to the north, the blue arrow of the device will point to it.
- Next, consult the map and the point that you have chosen as a landmark or your current location.
- Fix the direction of your movement.
How to plot a route on a map using a compass?
compass and ruler lie on the map to determine the location How to download and use the compass on iPhone correctly?
The iPhone lies on the railing with the "compass" program open next to the usual compass Often the compass is already installed on the iPhone among special applications. If it is not there, look in the AppStore and write "compass" in the search bar.
Choose from the drop-down list the application that you like. Or focus on the number of downloads, that is, the level of popularity of the utility.
After installing the compass application on your iPhone, to check its operation, proceed as follows:
- calibrate it. Launch the app and rotate in the air with one hand, as if drawing an infinity sign. This feature is available for iOS7. In other cases, the setting is different.
- A compass scale and an arrow pointing to the magnetic north pole will appear on the screen.
- If information about the geographic pole is important to you, go to Settings - Compass and check the box Apply True North.
- The white arrow outside the compass dial shows you the direction you are looking at at the current time. Adjust your position so that both arrows are facing north.
- Touch the screen once.
- Now, when moving, you will see a red moving zone. It shows your deviation from the fixed route. To remove it, touch the screen again.
- Combine compass data with maps. Run them. In the compass app, you will find numbers with the coordinates of your current location at the bottom of the screen. Double-tap them for extended help about your location.
How to download and correctly use the compass on Android?
several Android smartphones with a compass installed and working To download the compass app, go to the Play Market.
- In the search bar, enter "compass" and select the application you are looking for to install. Or any that has a higher percentage of popularity and downloads.
- After downloading the application, open it and calibrate the compass. You will see a hint on your phone how to do this.
- Then study the menu and features of the application and use it as needed. Consider all the nuances discussed in the previous sections.
So, we have considered the features correct operation with a compass as a stand-alone device or a smartphone app. We learned to navigate the terrain and determine the cardinal points in the forest, apartment.
Although our age of technology makes it possible to use GPS navigators almost everywhere, however, Internet coverage has a limited range of action.
Video: how to use a compass on the ground?
Since ancient times, people have been looking for ways to navigate the terrain in order to correctly find the way and follow the intended path. Both then and now it is very important for workers of various professions and for ordinary people.
There have been and still are many ways. For example, during the day with the help of the sun, and at night with the help of stars. There is a well-known and working method: north on the side from which moss grows on trees. Also, the cardinal points can be recognized by the wind, knowing its direction (trade winds always blow in the same direction, and monsoons - seasonally). But the most famous and popular way is the compass.
Who needs to know the cardinal points
Firstly, it is important for pilots and sailors not to stray off course or change the route correctly. The military, working in the field, also needs a way to navigate the terrain. When constructing and designing buildings, builders and architects also take into account how structures stand in relation to the cardinal points. Archaeologists, geologists and other scientists working in open areas orient themselves in their research to the cardinal points. And there is no need to talk about various kinds of tourists. In general, knowledge of finding the cardinal points is very important in our life. And all these people use a compass.
The designation of the cardinal points on the compass
Since ancient times, up to our time, inclusive, symbols on the compass were created to understand the direction of the arrow. The designation of the cardinal directions on the compass is as follows: N (North), S (South), E (East), W (West). In the Navy, this designation may vary slightly. These are the same N, S, E, W. Only they are pronounced differently, in German. This is due to the fact that at the peak of the development of world navigation, the advanced fleet was in Holland, whose official language belongs to the German group. The compass uses the same symbols. The cardinal directions in Russian are C (north), South (south), E (east), W (west), respectively. In addition, for convenience and accuracy of designation on the compass, intermediate cardinal directions are sometimes marked. These are NE (northeast, further by analogy), NW, SE, SW. Rarely, but they use such designations of the cardinal points on the compass: NNE (north-northeast), NW, etc.
The structure of the compass
The compass is a very ancient instrument. It is believed that the Chinese were the first to invent it. Later, Europeans began to use it. Despite several centuries separating the first compass and its modern counterpart, the most famous type of compass has practically not undergone any changes in structure and principle of operation.
The most famous and easy-to-use type of compass is the Adrianov compass. In fact, its two main parts are the case and the arrow. There is also a brake that prevents the needle from spinning freely, preventing various possible problems while the compass is not in use. There is also a panel with divisions, on which the cardinal points and degrees between them are indicated. On such a compass, in the absence of problems, the arrow will always point to the north.
By the way, the arrows can be completely various kinds. The most common is an arrow in the form of an oblong rhombus, painted blue and red. In this case, north is where the blue side points. Also, the hands can be in the form of ordinary hours or curly.
Types of compasses
- The most popular is magnetic. It is named so because the main principle of its operation is the relationship of the magnetic field of the compass needle with magnetic field Earth, which causes the arrow to always point north. But such a compass has disadvantages. Although it is easy to use, it will not function correctly near power lines or other objects with a strong magnetic field. Adrianov's compass - this is exactly what it is magnetic compass.
- Gyrocompass - similar to magnetic, but with one significant difference. The arrow in it will point to the geographic north of the Earth, and not to the magnetic one.
- An electronic compass is a compass that works only on the basis of satellite readings. That is, it receives signals from terrestrial satellites and uses them to determine the direction and its own location. Many phones use an electronic compass.
Instrument performance
Using the usual one, you should first find out if it works correctly. Actually it is easy to check. You need to put the compass on a horizontal surface and wait for the arrow to stop completely. After that, bring something metal to the compass, and when the arrow moves, remove this object. If the arrow returns to its original place, then everything is fine.
How to determine cardinal directions on a compass
When going out into an unfamiliar area and taking a magnetic compass with you, you need to know some information about its use.
- Release the compass from the brake so that the needle can rotate freely.
- Place it on the most horizontal surface and wait for the arrow to stop completely.
- The arrow will point exactly north.
- Align the north end of the arrow with the north on the scale.
- Now the designations of the cardinal points on the scale coincide with the real position of the cardinal points.
Avoid being near power lines when using the compass, and always apply the brake after use.
By studying such lexical topics, like “travel”, “countries of the world”, etc., one cannot ignore the names of the cardinal points. There are only four of them, as in Russian - north, south, west and east. But there are some rules for writing and using these words that you need to know.
4 cardinal directions
IN English language There are three variants of phrases denoting parts of the world: compass points, cardinal points, cardinal direction. On the maps and the compass dial, these main directions are indicated by four Latin letters: N, S, E, W, which are the first letters of the names of the four cardinal points in English:
- North - - north
- South - south
- East - east
- West - west
There are three stable combinations with the word East: The Far East ( Far East), The Middle East (Middle East) and The Near East (Middle East). Orient is sometimes called Orient / Oriental (this is an old word, found mainly in literature).
Known sustainable combination with the word West - Wild West (Wild West), which, although the only one, is used without the definite article the.
From noun to adjective
If you add the suffix ern to the nouns North, South, East, West, you get an adjective denoting one or another part of the world. North - Northern (northern); South - Southern (southern), East - Eastern (eastern); West - Western (western).
By the way, the word "western" today means not only the direction of the world, but also serves as a definition of style in clothing, music, design and genre in cinema.
You can use nouns without a suffix, the meaning of this does not change. So, for example, if you want to make the definition of "north" from the word "north", just add the word "wind" and you get north wind - north wind. The situation is similar with compound adjectives: north-east wind - northeast wind.
It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that compound adjectives can be written with a hyphen or together: north-west=northwest, south-east=southeast.
In this regard, confusion sometimes arises, how is it correct to use the word in the meaning of an adjective? Should I use the ern suffix or not?
According to general rule, parts of the world adjectives with -ern are used when talking about large areas. However, in practice it can be seen that this is not always the case.
- Some people prefer to buy second homes on the north coast of Ireland.
- The northern parts of India have suffered severe flooding.
In addition, there are adjectives with -ern included in geographical names that need to be remembered.
- W'll celebrate Christmas in Northern Ireland next year.
- Perth is the capital of Western Australia.
Use of the article with parts of the world
According to the general rule of using articles with parts of the world, the definite article the is written in stable names with parts of the world that need to be memorized. In all other cases, the names of the main directions are written without the article.
- The North Pole
- The South Pole
- The Far East
- The Middle East - Middle East.
The names of parts of the world are written with a small letter (except for geographical names) without the use of articles. However, if you want to say "north / south / west / east of something", then you need to use the turnover with the article the ... of. In this case, of may not exist. If the cardinal directions are used in the sense of a part of a country or region, in this case the article the is needed.
- We were driving from north to south.
- She was born in the north of France.
- How do you like living in the north?
If you want to say “To the West/North/South/East of…”, “to the West/North/East/South”, you can also use the turn the… of, or you can add the suffix ward or wards to the words North/East/West/South. Translation into Russian will be the same:
- To the West of this valley we see great Kilimanjaro
- Westwards this valley we see great Kilimanjaro
- But in colloquial language more often they say to the.
It happens that it becomes necessary to determine the location of the north, south, west or east. And this does not have to happen if you, for example, wander through the forests. Sometimes you need to understand where north or south is located in your own apartment. For example, to put furniture according to Feng Shui or find out the place where some finicky house plant will bloom.
In the second case, information is more needed in order to know at what time and where the plant will have more light and heat. In the science of Feng Shui, the situation is a bit more complicated. You need to know where to put this or that furniture, in which direction to sleep with your head, where it is better to place a recreation area, and where is the work area. A few simple rules will help you solve this problem.
How to determine cardinal directions online in an apartment using a compass
Most elementary method- this is to look out the window at dawn, when the sun rises or at sunset, when it is vice versa - it sets. After all, everyone knows from school that it rises in the east and sets in the west. And in accordance with this, you can find out which is north and which is south.
You can determine the cardinal directions in the apartment using a compass. How it works is usually also taught at school. However, in practice, few people are faced with the use of this invention. And the process is very simple. The compass front sight is mounted on the zero of the device, while the compass itself is held horizontally. Next, release the brake of the magnetic needle and rotate around its axis so that the blue part of the arrow stops at zero. There we will have the north. Accordingly, south is behind, west on the left, east on the right.
If you don't have a compass handy, you can do it yourself. For this, a non-metallic container is taken, water is collected there. Next, put any light object into the water (for example, a piece of paper or foam), and put a needle on top. On the one hand, its tip should be magnetized (rub it on hair or wool). As a result, the magnetized tip of the needle will turn towards the south, and with the usual tip towards the north.
You can determine the cardinal points by the clock with arrows, if it's sunny outside. Aim with a short arrow towards the sun. Through the angle between it and the number 12, mentally draw a bisector. It will show where the south is located.
Directions of the world by the hour
Thanks to the development of the Internet, now it is possible to understand where and what part of the world in the apartment online. Enter your address on the map of your city. On maps on the Internet, the cardinal directions are always indicated. Next, we find our house and determine in which direction which part of the world. You can also learn how to use an online compass. Typically, such resources are tied to either Google Maps or Yandex Maps. We will see a large compass on the screen. We also enter the city and address, and, according to what the compass shows, we determine which regions - north or south - the windows of your home look at.
Ways to determine the cardinal points in the forest
There are several ways to navigate the terrain without a map. If such a need arose, then both nature and man prepared many options, how to do it.
The first thing that comes to mind is to use a compass. We have already considered the principle of operation of the compass earlier: in the apartment, in the forest, the procedure is identical. After finding the north direction, select a distant landmark and move towards it.
If this device is not in the immediate vicinity, remember: in the forest there are a lot of natural signs of how to recognize which is north and which is south.
At night, you can navigate by the stars. Recall from school curriculum about Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, which resemble the shape of a bucket. At the end of the "handle" of the ladle Ursa Minor lives the polar star, and it shines brightly in the north. You can detect it as follows: mentally measure the distance between the lower rightmost star of Ursa Major and the upper one and lay it five times in a straight line towards the constellation Ursa Minor. At the end of the delayed segment and hides polar Star. This is the north.
polar Star
You can determine the cardinal directions by the sun, what and where. An elementary way is to fix from which side it rises and from which it sets, therefore, at sunrise - east, at sunset - west. When the sun is at its zenith, that is, in highest point, and this is usually noon, you need to turn your back on it, and north will be ahead of you.
Now many mobile applications have been developed to help in determining the cardinal points. Some of them, for example, are guided just by the location of the sun. Simply enter information about the hemisphere you are in this moment. The application determines the current time indicators and builds a north-south, west-east crosshair. Turn the mobile phone towards the sun, and the program will show the correct location of the cardinal points.
It happens that You get lost while in the city. Even city dwellers cannot always say with certainty which side is north and which is south. Satellite navigator to help you. Just say or enter the address of the building closest to you and navigate according to the data received. Ordinary cards will also help. the operating principle is the same. You will only have to manually search for the desired address on the map.
Decide on what which part of the world is located where, by the clock - this is the same, and in the apartment about which we wrote earlier today. But remember: we direct the short arrow at the sun. Between it and the number 12 we draw a bisector. She will show where the south is.
Natural signs have repeatedly helped lost tourists find the right path. The cardinal directions can be determined, for example,
by anthill. Usually it is located from the south of some tree, bush, boulder, and on the south side its slope will always be more gentle.
Anthill
How to determine the cardinal points by the stump? Very simple. On the stumps of trees that have been cut down, annual rings can be clearly seen. From the northern part they are narrower than from the south. If no rings are visible, note which side of the stump the moss grows on. This is the north.
The moon can help in determining the cardinal directions at night. You need to remember the following: on a full moon at midnight, the Moon is always in the south. But what if the moon is not full? There is such a way. Visually divide the lunar disk into 12 parts and mentally estimate how many parts of the moon are illuminated. Based on this, move the hands to the same number of hours as you see the illuminated parts. And further, focusing on the Moon, as on the Sun, establish what and where.
In the daytime, you can determine the cardinal points by the shadow. You need to poke a stick into the ground and fix in memory when the length of the shadow is the smallest. This means that the Sun is at its zenith, and the shadow line points to the north.
How to determine the cardinal directions on a tree? Here, experienced tourists noticed several ways. The first and most popular is to see where the tree is overgrown with moss. This is the north. If you are standing next to a pine or other coniferous tree, pay attention to which side releases more resin. Usually it's south.
If such a tree stands on a slope, then this is most likely the north, because coniferous trees like to grow there. Deciduous trees prefer southern slopes. If mushrooms grow at the foot of the tree, note which side has more mushrooms. There is north. And the branches of the trees grow thicker from the south.
If you decide to go hiking, keep in mind that one or two signs, in which case, may not be enough. W remember that there must be at least five of them. Whatever situation you find yourself in, the main thing is to remain calm and not lose vigilance. If you realize that you are completely lost, and modern gadgets do not help due to the lack of a network signal or a dead battery, stop, exhale and look around you.
Remember everything that this article or the advice of experienced travelers taught you. Find the nearest landmark by which you can determine the cardinal direction. And then use the knowledge that is deposited in your head.
I travel regularly. Approximately three trips per year for 10-15 days and many 2 and 3 day hikes.
