Track Angle:
- Track Angle refers to the actual direction that the vessel, aircraft, or vehicle follows over the ground, measured relative to True North (or Magnetic North).
- The track is the real path the vehicle takes, which can be affected by external factors like wind, currents, or drift, causing the actual movement to differ from the intended course.
- The Track Angle is the angle between the actual track (the real path followed) and the reference direction (True North or Magnetic North).
Example: If the ship was planning to head east (90°) but was pushed by a current to the southeast, the Track Angle might be 85° instead of 90°, meaning the actual path followed is slightly to the south of the intended course.
Course:
- Course refers to the intended or planned direction of travel that a vessel, aircraft, or vehicle is meant to follow, as defined by navigation charts, waypoints, or a flight plan.
- The course is the direction of travel along a planned route, usually expressed as an angle relative to True North (True Course) or Magnetic North (Magnetic Course).
- The course is set based on the navigation plan and does not account for external factors like wind, current, or drift.
Example: If a ship is planning to travel east, its course will be 90° (True Course), assuming the chart or route indicates that direction.
Track Angle and Course are not the same. Course is the planned direction, while Track Angle is the actual direction of travel over the ground.
