CORE CORE Land Navigation and Orienteering 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Declination on a compass refers to the difference between:
- True north and the direction of sunrise
- Magnetic north and true (geographic) north (Correct answer)
- The compass bearing and the trail bearing
- Grid north and the direction of travel
Correct answer: Magnetic north and true (geographic) north
Magnetic declination is the angular difference between magnetic north (where the compass needle points) and true geographic north.
Question 2: A topographic map scale of 1:24,000 means that 1 inch on the map equals how many inches on the ground?
- 240 inches
- 2,400 inches
- 24,000 inches (Correct answer)
- 240,000 inches
Correct answer: 24,000 inches
A 1:24,000 scale means one unit on the map equals 24,000 of the same units on the ground.
Question 3: When triangulating your position with a compass, what is the minimum number of landmarks you need to take bearings on?
- One
- Two (Correct answer)
- Three
- Four
Correct answer: Two
Two back-bearings plotted on a map where they intersect identify your position, though a third is used to confirm accuracy.
Question 4: Which color on a standard USGS topographic map represents water features such as rivers and lakes?
- Green
- Brown
- Blue (Correct answer)
- Black
Correct answer: Blue
Blue is universally used on USGS topographic maps to represent water features including rivers, lakes, and streams.
Question 5: A ridge line on a topographic map is identified by contour lines that:
- Form V-shapes pointing toward lower elevation (Correct answer)
- Form closed circles at the center
- Run parallel without curving
- Point toward higher elevation in a U-shape
Correct answer: Form V-shapes pointing toward lower elevation
Ridges are shown by contour lines that form V- or U-shapes with the tip pointing downhill (toward lower elevation).
Question 6: When navigating in the field, which technique involves keeping a distant landmark aligned with your direction of travel to maintain a straight course?
- Back-sighting
- Triangulation
- Aiming off
- Steering by landmark (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Steering by landmark
Steering (or traveling) by landmark means selecting a visible feature in your direction of travel and walking toward it to stay on course.
Question 7: The 'aiming off' technique in orienteering is used to:
- Deliberately navigate to one side of a destination so you know which way to turn when you hit a catching feature (Correct answer)
- Correct for magnetic declination before taking a bearing
- Estimate distance by counting paces to an offset point
- Navigate around obstacles by traveling in a zigzag pattern
Correct answer: Deliberately navigate to one side of a destination so you know which way to turn when you hit a catching feature
Aiming off means intentionally navigating to one side of your target so that when you hit a line feature, you know which direction to follow to reach it.
CORE CORE Land Navigation and Orienteering 5
Declination on a compass refers to the difference between: