1. What is True Bearing?

True Bearing is the horizontal angle measured clockwise between the true meridian and the line. It represents the actual geographic direction from true north.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the True Bearing formula:

Where:

• \( TB \) — True Bearing (radians)
• \( MB \) — Magnetic Bearing (radians)
• \( MD \) — Magnetic Declination (radians)

Explanation: This formula calculates the true bearing by subtracting the magnetic declination from the magnetic bearing when declination is in the west.

3. Importance of True Bearing Calculation

Details: Accurate true bearing calculation is crucial for navigation, surveying, and mapping applications where precise directional measurements are required relative to true north.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter magnetic bearing and magnetic declination values in radians. Both values must be non-negative numbers for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is magnetic declination?
A: Magnetic declination is the angle between true north and magnetic north at a specific location and time.

Q2: Why subtract when declination is west?
A: When magnetic declination is west, magnetic north is west of true north, so we subtract the declination to get true bearing.

Q3: How does this differ from east declination?
A: For east declination, the formula would be TB = MB + MD, as magnetic north would be east of true north.

Q4: What units should be used?
A: While this calculator uses radians, bearings are often measured in degrees in practical applications. Ensure consistent units.

Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: The calculation is mathematically precise, but accuracy depends on the precision of the input values and current magnetic declination data.