Bearing (navigation)
A "bearing" is a term used (for example) in navigation, although it can also be used to refer to simply our direction of motion. Bearings can be measured in mils or degrees. In navigational terms, "bearing" is perhaps more usually the angle between our forward direction, and the direction from us to another object. It typically refers to the direction of, some object, as seen by us, compared to our current heading. In other words, it's simply the angle between our forward direction, and a line towards the object in question. The term can also be used to mean the "absolute" compass direction of an object, as seen by us.
In aerial terms, "bearing" means the actual compass direction of the forward course of our aircraft. In land navigation, bearing means the angle between a line connecting us and another object, and a north-south line. (ie, a meridian.)
Read more about Bearing (navigation): Other Terminology Sometimes Used, Bearing Measurement
Famous quotes containing the word bearing:
“What a dissimilarity we see in walking, swimming, and flying. And yet it is one and the same motion: it is just that the load- bearing capacity of the earth differs from that of the water, and that that of the water differs from that of the air! Thus we should also learn to fly as thinkers—and not imagine that we are thereby becoming idle dreamers!”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)