navigational tools in 1500's

Navigational Tools in the 1500's

Astrolabe

An astrolabe was used to measure the height of the stars in the sky and calculate the latitude on a map.

Lines of Latitude

• Latitude lines are imaginary lines that run horizontally on a map or globe.

• The equator is the most known latitude line.

• Sailors would determine the latitude using an astrolabe and would then find the latitude on the map to show them where they were.

Orienteering Compass

An orienteering compass has a magnetic needle that aligns with the poles of the Earth. The compass always points North. Sailors would use it to determine the direction they were traveling.

Sextant

A sextant uses two mirrors and a movable arm to measure angles of the stars in the sky. Sailors would then use a map to determine how far east or west they were from the Prime Meridian.

Prime Meridian

• The Prime Meridian is a longitude line.

• Longitude lines are imaginary lines running vertically on a map or globe.

• It runs through Greenwich, England.

Early Explorer's ships

Ship builders started adding features to ships to make sailing easier.

Stern Rudder

A stern rudder was one of the things added to a ship. A stern rudder was an oar on the back of the ship which controlled the direction the ship is sailing. It made steering the ship easier.

Can you find the stern rudder on this ship?

Caravel

The Caravel was a type of ship that had rectangular sails. It helped ships sail faster. It had more room for cargo and could sail into shallow waters.

Poll

Would you want to sail across the ocean in one of these ships?

• yes

• no

Multiple Choice

Which instrument always points north and helped sailors know which direction they were traveling?

• sextant

• orienteering compass

• stern rudder

• caravel

Multiple Choice

Which instrument measured the height of the stars in the sky. Then used latitude lines on a map to determine the sailor's location?

• sextant

• orienteering compass

• stern rudder

• astrolabe

Multiple Choice

What was added to the back of the ship for better steering?

• astrolabe

• orienteering compass

• stern rudder

• Caravel

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the ship that had triangular sails for faster sailing?

• Astrolabe

• Caravel

• Stern rudder

• Sextant

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the instrument that measured the angles of the stars in the sky and then used a map to determine how far it was from the Prime Meridian?

• Orienteering compass

• Sextant

• Astrolabe

• stern rudder

Multiple Choice

What is the name of this instrument?

• astrolabe

• orienteering compass

• sextant

• stern rudder

Multiple Choice

What is the name of this instrument?

• astrolabe

• orienteering compass

• stern rudder

• sextant

Multiple Choice

What is this instrument?

• astrolabe

• orienteering compass

• stern rudder

• sextant

Multiple Choice

What is the name of this ship?

• stern rudder

• astrolabe

• sextant

• caravel

Multiple Choice

What is the name of this instrument?

• astrolabe

• orienteering compass

• stern rudder

• caravel