The plan position indicator indicates what type of bearing of a target?

The plan position indicator indicates what type of bearing of a target?

• A. Absolute
• B. Relative
• C. True
• D. Magnetic

Answer: (B)

The plan position indicator shows bearing relative to the ship’s forward direction. On this display, the own ship is at the center and each target’s position is given as an angle from the ship’s bow, so the indicated bearing is a relative bearing. If the ship turns, that same target would drift on the display even though its position in space hasn’t changed, because the reference direction (the ship’s heading) has changed. To get a true bearing (from true north) you’d add the ship’s heading to the relative bearing; to get a magnetic bearing you’d apply the magnetic variation after that.

The plan position indicator shows bearing relative to the ship’s forward direction. On this display, the own ship is at the center and each target’s position is given as an angle from the ship’s bow, so the indicated bearing is a relative bearing. If the ship turns, that same target would drift on the display even though its position in space hasn’t changed, because the reference direction (the ship’s heading) has changed. To get a true bearing (from true north) you’d add the ship’s heading to the relative bearing; to get a magnetic bearing you’d apply the magnetic variation after that.