Which statement correctly differentiates grid north, true north, and magnetic north?

Which statement correctly differentiates grid north, true north, and magnetic north?

• A. Grid north is defined by the map grid; true north is geographic north; magnetic north is the direction toward the magnetic pole.
• B. Grid north equals true north.
• C. True north equals magnetic north.
• D. Magnetic north equals grid north.

Answer: (A)

Different north references are used in navigation. True north is geographic north—the direction toward the North Pole. Magnetic north is the direction a compass points, toward the Earth's magnetic pole, which moves over time. Grid north comes from the map’s grid system; it’s the direction indicated by the vertical grid lines on the map and is defined by the map’s projection. This distinction is why the statement is correct: it neatly separates the map-based reference (grid north), the geographic reference (true north), and the magnetic reference (magnetic north). In practice, you’ll see these differ due to map projection (grid convergence) and the shifting magnetic pole, so understanding each reference helps you know how to convert between them when plotting a course or reading a compass with a map.

Different north references are used in navigation. True north is geographic north—the direction toward the North Pole. Magnetic north is the direction a compass points, toward the Earth's magnetic pole, which moves over time. Grid north comes from the map’s grid system; it’s the direction indicated by the vertical grid lines on the map and is defined by the map’s projection. This distinction is why the statement is correct: it neatly separates the map-based reference (grid north), the geographic reference (true north), and the magnetic reference (magnetic north). In practice, you’ll see these differ due to map projection (grid convergence) and the shifting magnetic pole, so understanding each reference helps you know how to convert between them when plotting a course or reading a compass with a map.