In the Northern Hemisphere, what will typically happen if a right turn is initiated from a north heading?

Prepare for the Airline Transport Pilot Written Knowledge Test with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

When a right turn is initiated from a north heading in the Northern Hemisphere, the behavior of the magnetic compass can be explained by the principles of magnetic variation and the physics of magnetic dip. As the aircraft begins to turn right, the compass will initially lag behind due to the effects of compass precession and the inherent design of the magnetic compass.

In the Northern Hemisphere, when you turn to the right from north, the compass will show a brief indication of a turn towards the west. This phenomenon occurs because the magnetic north is not exactly aligned with true north, and it is affected by the earth's magnetic fields and the inertia of the compass fluid. Thus, it may momentarily show a heading that is less than the actual heading you are turning towards—the compass effectively tends to lag, indicating a westward direction as you initiate the right-turn maneuver.

Understanding how the magnetic compass behaves in turns is crucial for pilots, as it ensures they can correctly interpret the instrument's indications during flight maneuvers. In contrast, the other choices do not align with the expected behavior of the compass during such a turn, as it will not indicate no change or turn directly south when making a right turn from north.

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