Page 10 - AP Unit 2 Vectors Student Binder_Neat

AP 2-6 Name: ______________________________________

Bearings Handout Date: _________________ Period: ________

There are three types of bearings you might see in high school:

1. Azimuth Bearings (used in Precalculus)

If you are given an angle measurement only, it is assumed to be measured clockwise from due north (typically
straight up). The US Army calls these measurements azimuths, but most of the rest of the world calls them
bearings. Pilots use them.

Examples:
(A) “… a bearing of 50° …” (B) “… a bearing of 150° …” (C) “... a bearing of 300° …”
N N N

2. Standard Bearings (used in Precalculus)

You are given direction - angle - direction. These are typical for boats or other non-air transports. The first
direction is North or South; the angle is measured from this direction. The second direction, West (left) or East
(right), determines on which side the angle is measured.

Examples:
(D) “… the bearing N 20° E …” (E) “… the bearing S 35° E …” (F) “… the bearing N 25° W …”
N N

S

3. Physics bearings (not used in Precalculus)

nd
In Physics, you might be given “angle - direction of direction”. The 2 direction (usually West or East) is the
st
initial side of the angle. The 1 direction, usually North (above) or South (below), determines on which side the
angle is measured.

Examples:
(G) “… travelling 25° S of E …” (H)“… moving 30° N of W …” (I) “… rolling 35° E of S …”
E

S

Regardless of the bearing type used, we use direction angles for vectors. These are measured from the positive
x-axis. Convert each of the bearings above to direction angles in degrees.

(A) _____ (B) _____ (C) _____ (D) _____ (E) _____ (F) _____ (G) _____ (H) _____ (I) _____