North

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Compass Rose English North

North refers to one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is opposite to south and is perpendicular to east and west. North is a fundamental direction used in navigation, geography, astronomy, and various sciences to define the orientation or location of objects or places on the Earth's surface. The concept of north has been essential in human navigation and orientation for thousands of years, influencing the development of maps, compasses, and other navigational tools.

Etymology

The word "north" is derived from the Old High German nord, and ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European *ner, meaning "left" or "below," as to one facing the rising sun. This etymology is reflected in the notion that north is generally towards the Earth's North Pole, which is situated in the Arctic Ocean.

Geographical Significance

The Earth's axis is tilted from perpendicular to the plane of the Ecliptic by approximately 23.5 degrees. This tilt results in the phenomenon of seasons. The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is the point in the Northern Hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface. This is distinct from the Magnetic North Pole, which is the point on the surface of the Earth where the planet's magnetic field points vertically downwards.

Navigation

Historically, navigators used the North Star, Polaris, in the Northern Hemisphere to navigate because it lies nearly in a direct line with the Earth's celestial pole, making it a stable point of reference. The invention of the compass, which points towards the Magnetic North, greatly facilitated navigation, especially during the Age of Discovery.

Cultural Aspects

In many cultures, north is associated with cold, winter, and sometimes with darkness and mystery. This is due to the geographic characteristics of the Northern Hemisphere, where the farther one goes from the equator, the colder the climate becomes, especially in the regions beyond the Arctic Circle where winters are long and dark.

North in Science

In science, especially in physics and Earth sciences, "north" plays a crucial role in defining the orientation of objects in space. For example, the Earth's magnetic field has a north and south magnetic pole, which are essential for understanding geomagnetism. In astronomy, the north celestial pole is the point in the sky about which all the stars seen from the Northern Hemisphere rotate.

See Also

• Cardinal direction
• Compass
• Geographic coordinate system
• Magnetic declination
• South
• East
• West