Mastering Bearings Worksheet

Name:

Date:

🧭 Part 1: Measuring Bearings

Remember: Bearings are measured clockwise from North (000°) and always written as 3-digit numbers.

1. Use your protractor to measure the bearing from point P to point Q in the diagram below. The line points northeast from P.

Bearing from P to Q: ____________°

2. Measure the bearing from point X to point Y. The line points southeast from X.

Bearing from X to Y: ____________°

3. What is the reference direction for measuring all bearings?

East

North

South

West

4. Which of these are correctly written bearings? (Tick all that apply)

045°

90°

270°

360°

🔢 Part 2: Calculating Bearings

5. Two bearings from the same point form a straight line. If one bearing is 110°, what is the other bearing?

Answer: ____________°

6. From point A, the bearings to three locations are 060°, 140°, and a third unknown bearing. What is the missing bearing?

Missing bearing: ____________°

7. A ship sails from harbour H to island I on a bearing of 075°. What is the bearing from island I back to harbour H?

Return bearing: ____________°

🗺️ Part 3: Real-Life Applications

8. A rescue helicopter flies from base B on a bearing of 045° for 30km to reach a stranded climber at point C. It then flies on a bearing of 160° for 20km to hospital H. Sketch this journey and calculate the direct bearing from the hospital back to the base.

Direct bearing from H to B: ____________°

9. Explain why bearings are important in navigation and give two real-life examples of when they might be used.

10. Extension Challenge: Create your own bearing problem involving at least two changes of direction. Write the problem below and solve it.

Your problem:

Your solution: