Question 614Navigation General

70% to pass

Variation is the angular measurement between what two points?

A your vessel's heading and the magnetic meridian
B magnetic meridian and the geographic meridian
C compass north and true north
D compass north and magnetic north
AI Explanation

The correct answer is B) magnetic meridian and the geographic meridian. Variation is the angular measurement between the magnetic meridian (the direction indicated by the compass) and the geographic meridian (the direction of true north). This variation is caused by the offset between the earth's geographic and magnetic north poles, and it must be accounted for when navigating using a compass. The other answer choices are incorrect because they do not accurately describe what variation measures. Option A refers to the vessel's heading, option C refers to compass north and true north, and option D refers to compass north and magnetic north - none of which are the definition of variation.

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Official Resources
USCG Navigation Rules (COLREGS) 33 CFR Navigation Rules USCG National Maritime Center
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