Concept 1 of 4
Compass Sense: North, South, East, West
Today's big idea
Turning walks you around the ring N, E, S, W, clockwise or the other way.
A turn steps one place round the ring; a half turn lands on the opposite direction.
How it works
👀 What's going on?
North, South, East and West make a cross. Turning does not scramble them. It simply walks you around that cross in a fixed order.
💡 Here's the trick
Look at the compass above. Turning right, which is clockwise, walks you N to E to S to W and back round to N. Turning left walks the same ring the other way. A half turn of 180° always lands on the opposite side, so North becomes South.
🪄 How to do it
- 1.Note which direction you start facing, on the cross in the picture above.
- 2.For each turn step around the ring, clockwise as N, E, S, W and anti-clockwise in reverse.
- 3.Read off where you finish.
✍️ Try it
Face West and turn 90° clockwise. Then, from that new direction, turn 180°. Which way are you facing at the end?
From West, one clockwise step lands on North, because the ring runs N, E, S, W and W comes back round to N. A 180° turn from North gives its opposite, which is South.
⚠️ Watch out
You might be thinking clockwise and anti-clockwise mean the same as your own left and right. They do not, once you are facing anything but north. Facing South, your right hand points West rather than East.
🌟 Why this matters
Reading a road sign, following a map on a phone, or working out which way a window faces all rest on this cross. Getting the turn backwards sends you the opposite way entirely.
Exam tip: Draw the cross in the corner of the page, because turning a drawing beats turning a picture in your head.
Watch me solve one
Quanta solves it
“Watch how I think through one of these — then you try.”
THE PROBLEM
“Face East. Turn 90° anti-clockwise. New direction?”
- 1
Compass order
Anti-clockwise: E → N → W → S → E.
- 2
Move one step
From E, anti-clockwise = N.
- 3
Answer ✓
Now facing North
Now you try one — same steps, different story 👇
See it in action
⚡ Time to play!
Facing South: apply each 90° turn in order and watch the needle move.
COMPASS · ROUND 1 OF 3
Facing: South
Quick check
✅ VERIFICATION
You face South and turn 90° anti-clockwise. Which direction do you face now?
⚡ Finish the activity above first to answer.
Keep going!
Up next: Map Directions
Above = N · Below = S · Right = E · Left = W · Diagonals: NE, SE, SW, NW.