history of the compass will be interesting not only to specialists.The compass can be safely put in the list of the greatest discoveries of mankind.Thanks to him, was later established mapping, allowing a person to learn about new habitats.That compass we owe the discovery of America.After his appearance before the travelers were guided only by the stars, and geographical features.But these targets were highly dependent on the weather.Ordinary clouds could easily disarm the traveler.Since the invention of the compass these problems disappeared.But the history of the compass requires a more detailed story.Well, let's start!
Compass: the story of his discovery of
word "compass" comes from drevnebritanskogo «compass», means "circle".Most modern historians argue that the compass was invented in China in the I century.BC.e.Although there is evidence that this product existed in the 2nd millennium. BC.e.In any case, while the compass is a small piece of magnetized metal that was attached to a wooden bar, located in the vessel with water.This compass was used when moving through the deserts.They also use astrology.
history of the discovery of the compass says that in the Arab world, he appeared in the VIII., And in the European countries - only in the XII century.The first device is called by the Arabs took over the Italians.Then the compass began to use Spanish, Portuguese and French.The last of the new instrument learned Germans and the British.But while the device compass was as simple as possible: a magnetic needle strengthened on the tube and fell into the water.It was in the water tube, complete with an arrow oriented accordingly.In the XI century.in the same China, there was a compass needle, which manufactures artificial magnet.As a rule, it does it in the form of fish.
History Compass has continued in the XIV century.He took the baton Italian F. Gioia, who was able to considerably improve this instrument.In particular, he decided to put on a magnetic needle on a vertical stud.This simple, at first glance, the device has helped to significantly improve the compass.In addition, the arrow was attached to the coil, broken into 16 points of the compass.Two centuries later, the division was 32 coils have the rumba and the box with the arrow started putting in a special gimbals.Thus, the pitching of the ship ceased to influence the compass.In the XVII century.Compass equipped with a rotating line, helping to more accurately count direction.In the XVIII century.he had a direction finder.
But the story does not end with the creation of the compass.In 1838 it was found a way to neutralize the effect on the device iron products ship.And in 1908 came the gyrocompass, which has become the main navigation device.That he always points north.Today the exact direction of movement can be found with the help of satellite navigation, however many ships are equipped with a magnetic compass.They are used for additional verification or in case of technical problems.Thus, the history of the compass has not even hundreds, but thousands of years.
