What indication does the magnetic compass give when you roll into a standard-rate turn to the left from an east heading in the Northern Hemisphere, if the roll is smooth?

What indication does the magnetic compass give when you roll into a standard-rate turn to the left from an east heading in the Northern Hemisphere, if the roll is smooth?

• A. The compass will remain on east for a short time, then gradually catch up to the magnetic heading of the aircraft.
• B. The compass will initially indicate a turn to the right.
• C. The compass will show no change.
• D. The compass will indicate the approximate correct magnetic heading if the roll into the turn is smooth.

Answer: (D)

Magnetic compass readings lag behind real heading because the needle is damped in the liquid. When you roll smoothly into a standard‑rate turn to the left from an east heading, the heading changes gradually. That gradual change allows the damped compass card to track the new heading fairly closely, so you’ll see the indication move toward the actual magnetic heading rather than sticking at east or showing a misleading turn direction. In other words, the compass provides an approximate correct magnetic heading during a smooth roll into the turn. If the roll were abrupt or other factors affected the motion, the indication could diverge more, but with a smooth roll the indication stays near the true heading.

Magnetic compass readings lag behind real heading because the needle is damped in the liquid. When you roll smoothly into a standard‑rate turn to the left from an east heading, the heading changes gradually. That gradual change allows the damped compass card to track the new heading fairly closely, so you’ll see the indication move toward the actual magnetic heading rather than sticking at east or showing a misleading turn direction. In other words, the compass provides an approximate correct magnetic heading during a smooth roll into the turn. If the roll were abrupt or other factors affected the motion, the indication could diverge more, but with a smooth roll the indication stays near the true heading.