If the whole circle bearing of a line is zero degrees, then the reduced bearing of the line is in the _____ direction.

Discussion - MCQs on Compass Surveying - Bearings

If the whole circle bearing of a line is zero degrees, then the reduced bearing of the line is in the _____ direction.

A. North
B. South
C. West
D. East
Correct Answer: A. North

🧭 Understanding Surveying Bearings

The direction of a survey line is expressed as a bearing. There are two primary systems for defining bearings, and understanding the difference is key to solving this problem.

  • Whole Circle Bearing (WCB): This system measures the angle of a line clockwise from the North direction (which is taken as 0° or 360°). The bearing can be any value from 0° up to 360°. For example, East is 90°, South is 180°, and West is 270°.
  • Reduced Bearing (RB) or Quadrantal Bearing (QB): This system measures the angle from either the North or South direction (whichever is closer), towards either the East or West. The angle is always acute (between 0° and 90°) and must be accompanied by letters to indicate the quadrant (e.g., N 30° E, S 45° W).

🔬 Detailed Solution

The question states that the Whole Circle Bearing (WCB) of a line is 0°.

In the WCB system, 0° is the reference direction from which all other angles are measured. By definition, this reference direction is due North.

When we convert this to the Reduced Bearing (RB) system:

  • The line points exactly along the North-South meridian.
  • There is no angular deviation towards the East or West.
  • Therefore, the Reduced Bearing is simply stated as "North".
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