The relative position of a place with reference to the north is called
Correct Answer: Direction
The relative position of a place with reference to the north is called direction. In geography and navigation, direction is a term used to describe the position of one point or object in relation to another, typically using the cardinal points of a compass—north, south, east, and west.
North is commonly considered the primary reference point. When a location is described in terms of its position relative to north, it helps in determining where it lies on a map or in the physical world. For example, if a place is said to be northeast of another place, it means it lies in the direction between north and east from that point of reference. This helps travelers, map readers, and navigators find and understand spatial relationships.
Direction can be expressed in different ways. The most basic form is through the four cardinal directions—north, south, east, and west. These can be further broken down into intermediate or ordinal directions such as northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest. In more precise navigation, degrees on a compass (ranging from 0° to 360°) are used. Here, 0° or 360° represents north, 90° is east, 180° is south, and 270° is west.
Understanding direction is important not only in geography but also in various real-life applications like navigation, urban planning, military operations, aviation, and maritime activities. It helps in organizing space and locating positions accurately. For instance, GPS systems use direction along with distance to guide people from one location to another.
In summary, direction is the geographical term that defines the relative position of a place concerning north and other cardinal points, playing a key role in orientation and spatial awareness.