Which are the three types of north?

• A. True north
• B. Magnetic north
• C. Grid north
• D. True north, Magnetic north, and Grid north

Answer: (D)

In navigation there are three reference directions that can be called north: true north, magnetic north, and grid north.

True north points toward the geographic North Pole along the Earth's axis and is constant in space. Magnetic north is the direction a magnetic compass points, which follows Earth's magnetic field but shifts by location and over time. Grid north is the direction along the north–south lines of a map’s grid system, which is tied to the map projection and may not align with true north.

These distinctions matter because you’ll often need to convert bearings between them: true north to magnetic north involves magnetic variation, and true north to grid north involves grid convergence. Since a map often uses grid north, while a compass uses magnetic north, recognizing all three directions is essential for accurate navigation.