There are various navigational instruments used by the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, as well as all the other ships navigating the world's waterways. These navigational instruments are used in ships for various purposes. Some are used to determine the present position of the ship and some to indicate the speed as well as determine the direction and some to indicate when the vessel will arrive at its destination. Some of these have been used for years like charts and maps and some are electronics and computer operated. Here are just a few of the instruments used on board sea-faring vessels.
Some interesting navigation instruments used in ships are telescopic marine alidades. The alidade is used to find the relative bearing of another object in relation to the ship. When this instrument is used, it is usually mounted on a bearing compass repeater or bearing compass. It is equipped with a telescopic sight and prismatic optical system. Accurate bearings of objects in the distance are clearly obtained, through the telescopic marine alidade. This can be important data to acquire in many situations.
Another piece of equipment that needs no electricity but still is very helpful is the three-arm protractor. In these modern days, a GPS system is often used, but the three-arm protractor still can be used to quickly determine a ship's location, which certainly can be important if electrical systems fail. Calculations can be made with data measured from this instrument, and the latitude and longitude can be determined. Jointly used with this navigational instrument are navigational charts.
Binoculars and telescopes are interesting optical instruments also used in navigation. These are instruments used to make things look bigger when you look through these instruments. Binoculars are two telescopes that are the same and connected together and used with the person looking with both eyes. A telescope is only one scope and only one eye is used. With binoculars, a three dimensional image is seen because both eyes are used. Using a binocular can produce an image that is more natural for the person looking at an object. Even with objects that are far, the image seen will still be clearer and look bigger.
Navigational sextants are also instruments used in ships and in general navigation. A sextant is an instrument and device used to measure angles between two objects. Two mirrors are used and in navigation, the horizon is viewed through this mirror. The other mirror is movable and light from an object or the sun is used for its reflection. The angle between the two is then read through the scale in the instrument. Navigational sextants are very important instruments used in navigation because of the accuracy of these instruments.
Electronic equipment like sonar and radar are also very important in navigation. These are instruments used to determine and locate objects through the echo of signals bounced off the object. Radar is used with radio waves as medium and sonar with sound waves. Inland or through the air, radio waves are used and in the seas or underwater, sound waves are the mediums used. Radar and sonar have different applications because of the different type of energy used, radio waves for radar and sound waves for sonar.
Some interesting navigation instruments used in ships are telescopic marine alidades. The alidade is used to find the relative bearing of another object in relation to the ship. When this instrument is used, it is usually mounted on a bearing compass repeater or bearing compass. It is equipped with a telescopic sight and prismatic optical system. Accurate bearings of objects in the distance are clearly obtained, through the telescopic marine alidade. This can be important data to acquire in many situations.
Another piece of equipment that needs no electricity but still is very helpful is the three-arm protractor. In these modern days, a GPS system is often used, but the three-arm protractor still can be used to quickly determine a ship's location, which certainly can be important if electrical systems fail. Calculations can be made with data measured from this instrument, and the latitude and longitude can be determined. Jointly used with this navigational instrument are navigational charts.
Binoculars and telescopes are interesting optical instruments also used in navigation. These are instruments used to make things look bigger when you look through these instruments. Binoculars are two telescopes that are the same and connected together and used with the person looking with both eyes. A telescope is only one scope and only one eye is used. With binoculars, a three dimensional image is seen because both eyes are used. Using a binocular can produce an image that is more natural for the person looking at an object. Even with objects that are far, the image seen will still be clearer and look bigger.
Navigational sextants are also instruments used in ships and in general navigation. A sextant is an instrument and device used to measure angles between two objects. Two mirrors are used and in navigation, the horizon is viewed through this mirror. The other mirror is movable and light from an object or the sun is used for its reflection. The angle between the two is then read through the scale in the instrument. Navigational sextants are very important instruments used in navigation because of the accuracy of these instruments.
Electronic equipment like sonar and radar are also very important in navigation. These are instruments used to determine and locate objects through the echo of signals bounced off the object. Radar is used with radio waves as medium and sonar with sound waves. Inland or through the air, radio waves are used and in the seas or underwater, sound waves are the mediums used. Radar and sonar have different applications because of the different type of energy used, radio waves for radar and sound waves for sonar.
About the Author:
Carey Bourdier enjoys writing about precision scientific instruments. To get more information about surveying instruments such as a surveyor compass, or to find other alignment instruments, check out the Warren Knight site today.
