30+ Compass Surveying High Level MCQ Questions and Answers

1. Which of the following situations is NOT suitable for compass surveying?

A) Areas with magnetic substances like iron ore

B) Areas that cannot be divided into network of triangles

C) Surveying through dense forest

D) Large areas with many details

A) Areas with magnetic substances like iron ore

2. What is a characteristic of a closed traverse in compass surveying?

A) It forms a closed polygon with its sides

B) It requires extensive use of triangulation

C) It forms a straight line across two points

D) It involves only open areas

A) It forms a closed polygon with its sides

3. In compass surveying, why are the graduations on a prismatic compass marked inverted?

A) To comply with international standards

B) To be viewed correctly through the prism

C) To avoid errors in magnetic variation

D) To facilitate attachment to the tripod stand

B) To be viewed correctly through the prism

4. What is the main function of the pivot in a prismatic compass?

A) To balance the magnetic needle accurately

B) To facilitate the attachment to a tripod

C) To ensure the compass can be leveled quickly

D) To allow adjustment of the sighting slit

A) To balance the magnetic needle accurately

5. Why is compass surveying often employed for long and narrow geographical features?

A) It is easier to perform in such areas with a prismatic compass

B) It allows for forming a network of triangles easily

C) It can ignore detailing and obstacles in such areas

D) It can be completed without any linear measurements

A) It is easier to perform in such areas with a prismatic compass

6. Which type of compass is mainly utilized in electronic devices for determining orientation?

A) Thumb compass

B) Astro compass

C) Solid-state compass

D) Marine compass

C) Solid-state compass

7. For which specific purpose is the Qibla compass used?

A) To navigate maritime vessels

B) To identify the direction to Mecca for prayers

C) To measure horizontal angles in surveying

D) To determine astronomical positions

B) To identify the direction to Mecca for prayers

8. What primary function does the gyro compass serve aboard ships?

A) Record marine life movements

B) Measure distances between nautical points

C) Find true north using gravitational forces

D) Provide GPS coordinates

C) Find true north using gravitational forces

9. What distinguishes a prismatic compass from other compasses in terms of its components?

A) Uses light for visibility in low-light conditions

B) Includes a fixed compass card mounted in fluid

C) Contains a GPS for precise navigation

D) It uses a triangular glass prism for sighting

D) It uses a triangular glass prism for sighting

10. In what regions is the astro compass particularly utilized, and why?

A) Dense urban centers to avoid signal interference

B) Polar regions due to unreliability of magnetic compasses

C) Deserts due to lack of landmarks for navigation

D) Rainforests to benefit from canopy coverage

B) Polar regions due to unreliability of magnetic compasses

11. Which type of compass employs a rotating card mounted in fluid, often used on boats for stability?

A) Liquid compass

B) Marine compass

C) Baseplate compass

D) Prismatic compass

B) Marine compass

12. What characteristic differentiates a prismatic compass specifically used for military purposes or plotting?

A) GPS functionality for precise location

B) Fixed needle with movable card for ease

C) Liquid-filled housing for stability

D) Equipped with a triangular prism for accurate observations

D) Equipped with a triangular prism for accurate observations

13. In what way does a GPS compass determine directions and locations on Earth?

A) Depends on liquid-filled card for orientation

B) Utilizes satellite data to find location and cardinal directions

C) Uses Earth’s magnetic field to align bearings

D) Employs gyroscopic principles to find true north

B) Utilizes satellite data to find location and cardinal directions

14. Which type of compass is most suitable for determining true north in regions where magnetic and gyrocompasses fail?

A) Astro Compass

B) Gyro Compass

C) Solid-state Compass

D) Thumb Compass

A) Astro Compass

15. For what primary purpose is a Qibla compass specifically designed?

A) Gain orientation underwater

B) Measure high-altitude bearings

C) Determine latitude and longitude

D) Identify the direction toward Mecca for prayer

D) Identify the direction toward Mecca for prayer

16. Which of the following best describes the true meridian?

A) A line indicated by a freely suspended magnetic needle.

B) A line parallel to the equator.

C) A line formed by a plane passing through the Earth’s north and south poles and a given place.

D) Any direction assumed for convenience in measurements.

C) A line formed by a plane passing through the Earth’s north and south poles and a given place.

17. What is a key characteristic of true bearing?

A) It remains constant regardless of location.

B) It must be recalculated daily.

C) It is measured at angles greater than 90 degrees.

D) It varies with time and location.

A) It remains constant regardless of location.

18. Which system measures the bearing of a line clockwise from the north of the meridian around a circle?

A) Arbitrary bearing system.

B) True meridian system.

C) Whole circle bearing system.

D) Quadrantal bearing system.

C) Whole circle bearing system.

19. How is the bearing of a line measured in the quadrantal bearing system?

A) Measured clockwise only from the south.

B) Calculated only for the northern hemisphere.

C) Always computed from the true meridian.

D) Measured from north or south towards east or west, whichever is nearer.

D) Measured from north or south towards east or west, whichever is nearer.

20. What is the rule for converting a whole circle bearing to a quadrantal bearing between 90° and 180°?

A) Multiply the whole circle bearing by 2.

B) Subtract the whole circle bearing from 180°.

C) Divide the whole circle bearing by 2.

D) Add 180° to the whole circle bearing.

B) Subtract the whole circle bearing from 180°.

21. Which of the following is NOT a step involved in the process of compass traversing in the field?

A) Measuring the traverse legs and offsets

B) Reconnaissance of area

C) Determining the direction of lines

D) Calculation of latitude and departure

D) Calculation of latitude and departure

22. What is the primary reason for incorrect bearings in compass surveying?

A) Errors in angle measurement

B) Incorrect chaining distance recordings

C) Local attraction affecting the compass needle

D) Wrong selection of survey stations

C) Local attraction affecting the compass needle

23. How is the back bearing of a line calculated in compass surveying?

A) Adding zenith angle

B) Fore bearing ± 180 degrees

C) Subtracting magnetic declination

D) Using the azimuth addend

B) Fore bearing ± 180 degrees

24. Which condition must be fulfilled for a line’s fore and back bearings to differ by exactly 180 degrees in compass surveying?

A) The station poles are perfectly aligned

B) The angles are measured simultaneously

C) There is no local attraction affecting the line

D) Both bearings are observed at night

C) There is no local attraction affecting the line

25. In calculating an included angle between two intersecting lines, what indicates that the angle is an exterior angle?

A) Measurement from the midpoint

B) Difference exceeds 180 degrees

C) Bearing below 90 degrees

D) Sum is less than 360 degrees

B) Difference exceeds 180 degrees

26. Which of the following is considered an error due to external influences in compass surveying?

A) The needle not being perfectly straight

B) Local attraction due to proximity of steel structures

C) The pivot being bent

D) Inaccurate centering of the compass

B) Local attraction due to proximity of steel structures

27. What type of error in compass surveying is ‘inaccurate leveling of the compass box’ classified as?

A) Instrumental Error

B) Error due to external influences

C) Error of manipulation and sighting

D) Error from environmental changes

C) Error of manipulation and sighting

28. Which issue can cause a natural error during compass surveying?

A) The graduated circle not being horizontal

B) Carelessness in reading the graduations

C) The vertical hair being loose

D) The needle not moving freely

B) Carelessness in reading the graduations

29. Which of these is an instrumental error that can occur in compass surveying?

A) Errors due to magnetic changes in atmosphere

B) Imperfect bisection of the ranging rods at stations

C) The line of sight not passing through the centre of the graduated ring

D) Carelessness in recording the observed readings

C) The line of sight not passing through the centre of the graduated ring

30. Which of the following is categorized as an error of manipulation and sighting?

A) Variations in declinations

B) Imperfect bisection of the ranging rods at stations

C) Magnetic changes in atmosphere on a stormy day

D) The needle being sluggish

B) Imperfect bisection of the ranging rods at stations

31. Which of the following is NOT a natural error in compass surveying?

A) The needle not moving freely

B) Carelessness in recording observed readings

C) Local attraction due to nearby steel structures

D) Magnetic changes in atmosphere on a stormy day

A) The needle not moving freely

32. What type of error is caused by local attraction due to steel structures?

A) Natural error

B) Instrumental error

C) User error

D) Measurement error

A) Natural error

33. In compass surveying, which error results from the imperfect bisection of ranging rods at stations?

A) Instrumental errors

B) Errors due to external influences

C) Calibrational errors

D) Errors of manipulation and sighting

D) Errors of manipulation and sighting

34. Which error classification includes issues like a bent pivot in a compass?

A) Environmental errors

B) Natural errors

C) Human errors

D) Instrumental errors

D) Instrumental errors

35. The phrase ‘carelessness in reading the graduations’ best identifies with which error type?

A) Errors of manipulation and sighting

B) Calculation errors

C) Errors due to external influences

D) Instrumental errors

A) Errors of manipulation and sighting

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