What is the relationship between true north and magnetic variation?

• A. True north is geographic north; magnetic north differs due to magnetic variation; magnetic course accounts for variation.
• B. Magnetic north is fixed and never changes.
• C. True north and magnetic north are the same.
• D. True north is the reference for magnetic north.

Answer: (A)

True north is geographic north, the direction toward the North Pole as defined by the Earth’s coordinates. Magnetic north is the direction a compass points, toward the magnetic pole, and it isn’t fixed—it shifts with location and over time. The angular difference between these two directions at a given place is magnetic variation. This variation can be east or west, meaning magnetic north lies to the east or west of true north. Because compasses give you a magnetic heading, you must account for this variation to convert between magnetic headings and true headings. That’s why describing the magnetic course as something that accounts for variation best fits how navigation actually works.