Relative bearing is the angle between geographic north and the bearing of the object.

Relative bearing is the angle between geographic north and the bearing of the object.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It is the angle between the vessel's heading and the line to the object
• D. It is the angle between the object's bearing and the ship's stern

Answer: (B)

The concept being tested is the distinction between true (geographic) bearing and relative bearing. True bearing is the angle measured clockwise from geographic north to the line connecting you to the object. Relative bearing is the angle from the vessel’s own heading to that same line to the object, usually measured clockwise. Because the statement describes relative bearing as the angle between geographic north and the line to the object, it actually describes true bearing, not relative bearing. That makes the statement false. For a quick check, imagine the ship is heading east (90°). If the object lies along a line that has a true bearing of 120° (20° to the ship’s right of its heading), the relative bearing would be 120° − 90° = 30°. This shows relative bearing depends on the ship’s heading, not on north, which is why the given description doesn’t fit.

The concept being tested is the distinction between true (geographic) bearing and relative bearing. True bearing is the angle measured clockwise from geographic north to the line connecting you to the object. Relative bearing is the angle from the vessel’s own heading to that same line to the object, usually measured clockwise.

Because the statement describes relative bearing as the angle between geographic north and the line to the object, it actually describes true bearing, not relative bearing. That makes the statement false.

For a quick check, imagine the ship is heading east (90°). If the object lies along a line that has a true bearing of 120° (20° to the ship’s right of its heading), the relative bearing would be 120° − 90° = 30°. This shows relative bearing depends on the ship’s heading, not on north, which is why the given description doesn’t fit.