Kelvin compass (light card with multiple needles)
Compás de Kelvin (rosa ligera con agujas múltiples)
- Date
- 1876 · confidence high
- Place
- Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Credited to
- William Thomson (Lord Kelvin)
- Field
- Movement
What it is
A compass with a very light card, several small needles and soft-iron spheres compensating the ship's deviation. Steadier in a seaway than older models and suited to iron ships.
What it led to
- the standard compass of iron and steel ships
- better steering in bad weather
- modern Admiralty magnetic compasses