What Do You Know About Compass

A compass is a navigational instrument that shows directions in a frame of reference that is stationary relative to the surface of the Earth. The frame of reference defines the four cardinal directions or points, namely north, south, east, and west. It is a practical and functional tool for identifying directions.

[caption id="attachment_122" align="alignnone" width="600"] Pocket Compass[/caption]

According to statistics, the compass was invented in China, during the Han Dynasty between the 2nd century BC and 1st century AD. It was the crystallization of the wisdom of the ancient Chinese people. The first compasses were made of lodestone, a naturally magnetized ore of iron. Ancient Chinese people found that if a lodestone was suspended and able to turn freely, it would always point in the same direction toward the magnetic poles.

Early compasses were used for geomancy in the search for gems and the selection of sites for houses, but later were adapted for navigation during the Song Dynasty in the 11th century. Later compasses were made of iron needles, magnetized by striking them with a lodestone. The dry compass was invented in medieval Europe around 1300. This was supplanted in the early 20th century by the liquid-filled magnetic compass.

In modern time, compass still has been used in many fields. Many people use it to find the right direction. When they are going outside to have outdoor activities, they tend to bring a compass with them in case of being lost as it is a functional and practical tool for them to identify direction without worrying about the signal condition and weather condition. The compass can work normally without the disturbance of signal and weather.

The above has stated the brief introduction of compass. If you want to know more about this useful and practical compass, you can visit Banggood.com which provides various modern compass for you in different sizes and shapes.