Question 666Navigation General

The correct answer is D) the vessel is near the magnetic equator. The reason this is the correct answer is that the Earth's magnetic field is strongest near the magnetic poles and weakest near the magnetic equator. This means the magnetic compass will experience the greatest directive force, or the force that aligns the compass needle with the Earth's magnetic field, when the vessel is near the magnetic equator, where the magnetic field is weakest. The other answer choices are incorrect because: A) variation has no impact on the directive force of the compass, B) the alignment of the compass needles with the meridian does not affect the directive force, and C) the magnetic field is stronger near the poles, not weaker, so the directive force would be lower near the poles.