Bearings

What are bearings? Bearings are a directional angle used to describe the direction an object is heading with relation to a specific direction. Bearings are always given as an angle smaller than 90° in relation to the vertical directions (North and South). Ex) N30E : “30 degrees east of north” Ex) N30W : “30 degrees west of north” Ex) S30E : “30 degrees east of south” Ex) S30W : “30 degrees west of south” Exceptions: when an object is headed along on of the axis Ex) Due North, Due South, Due East, Due West

N30°E N50°W S45°W S80°E Due North Due West

Example 1: Two ships leave port at 4 p.m. One is headed at a bearing of N 38 E and is traveling at 11.5 miles per hour. The other is traveling 13 miles per hour at a bearing of S 47 E. How far apart are they when dinner is served at 6 p.m.?

Example 2: A plane leaves airport A on a bearing of 65° east of north and flies a distance of 100 km to pick up vital medical supplies at airport B. It then flies 220 km on a bearing if 30° east of south to deliver the supplies to airport C. How far does the plane have to travel from airport C to get back to airport A?

Another way to look at bearings Sometimes a problem will ask you to find the bearings to and from a location: A plane leaves on a bearing of 50 degrees east of south at 320 miles. It then goes 212 miles east of north at a bearings of 55 degrees. What are the bearings the plane has to take to get back to its starting position?

Homework Assignment 7 Worksheet