1- “Declination” is a natural deviation that you/we have to correct for. So imagine that you have a perfectly round beach ball. Now sit on the “north” pole of the beach ball. The beach ball’s equator sticks out or bulges out of round. Add peaks and mountain ranges and valleys and ocean troughs and mid-ocean ridges to the surface of the beach ball. (Kind of lumpy to sit on – and the poles are cold on your hindquarters.)
The earth has more plasticity than a steel ball (for instance) that allows the earth to deform. Add volcanoes, earthquakes, retreating and advancing glaciers, abduction, obduction, and subduction zones, tidal forces, divergent boundaries; all constantly change our earth’s lumpiness, the center of gravity, gravitational pull, and magnetic field lines.
S: Why did the policeman go to the baseball game?
T: He heard that someone had stolen a base.
1B- So we humans have to get out of our wanting things to be straight, simple, and logical. The magnetic north pole that a compass points to is different from Grid North and different from the North Pole. That difference is called “Declination.”
Note here that the magnetic lines from the North Pole to the South Pole are not straight. An added dimension to the distortion of the magnetic flux lines is the “solar wind” coming from the Sun.
So actually the magnetic compass points to the current, local magnetic flux line of Earth’s Magnetic Field. (Assuming no other deviations.)
One more piece of very important data about Declination. There are places on the earth that the declination is ZERO. Where magnetic and physical North Poles are aligned. Those flux lines are called “agonic.” The Greek word “agonos” is the basis for the word “agonic” and it means “having no angle.”
U: When is the Moon the heaviest?
V: When it is full.
2- A few more Ham questions: Thanks to KB6NU Ham Radio Study Guides
The normal rules are, however, relaxed a little during true emergencies. (Smell a bit of Catch – 22 here.)
When do the FCC rules NOT apply to the operation of an amateur station?
FCC rules always apply
Are amateur station control operators ever permitted to operate outside the frequency privileges of their license class?
Yes, but only if necessary in situations involving the immediate safety of human life or protection of property
Which amateur radio stations may make contact with an amateur radio station on the International Space Station (ISS) using 2 meter and 70 cm band frequencies?
Any amateur holding a Technician or higher-class license
What is meant by the statement that a satellite is operating in mode U/V?
The satellite uplink is in the 70 cm band and the downlink is in the 2-meter band
What mode of transmission is commonly used by amateur radio satellites?
All of these choices are correct
• SSB
• FM
• CW/data
W: What do you call mac & cheese that gets up into your face?
X: To close for comfort food.
3- Meeting Plans & Notes: (A requested new feature to the Sit. Reps.)
I am going to suggest that we follow these 3 steps in meetings:
1- EDGE
2- Mastery, Use, Develop & Practice
3- Test, and Pass Off requirements for Advancement
Example:
1- EDGE – teach the square/reef knot
2- Explain the use, explain the limitations, have a knot tying contest, practice tying it 2 different ways, practice tying it “slippery” or “slipped”
3- Test / Pass Off the requirement / sign the Advancement
Notes: When I teach a subject I require another Scout Leader (and not that Scout’s parent) test & sign off on the requirement. EDGE to Advancement may take several weeks. Different Scouts learn via different methods and at different speeds. We can only test what is required by the Handbook or MB Pamphlets.
Semper Paratus,
Gaither