How do you kno which direction (North, East, South, and West) you are facing when you do not have a compass?

Question

How do you kno which direction (North, East, South, and West) you are facing when you do not have a compass? Ex: How do police officers know if the suspect was escaping south bound or north bound?

Answer 1

Moss grows on the north face of  any tree.

The sun sets in the west, rises in the east, and is overhead in the south at noon.  

Rain storms generally move west to east.

Interstates with odd numbers run north-south, even numbers run east-west.

The north star.

Aurora Borealis is north.

Answer 2

If you are wearing an anolog watch you can point your hour hand (on the watch) at the sun. Exactly between 12 o'clock (on your watch) and your hour hand (pointed at the sun) is South.  You should be able to figure out the rest.

Answer 3

THE SUN RISES IN THE EAST(NORTHEAST) STAND WITH YOUR RIGHT HAND POINTING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE RISING SUN AND YOU WILL BE LOOKING NORTH' WEST AT YOUR LEFT HAND,AND SOUTH BEHIND YOU.

Answer 4

check the sun.  in the morning it will be in the east and in the afternoon in the west.

Answer 5

Look at a map. There is usually a north point on it

Answer 6

In daytime, look for the sun position. At night, stars can give direction.

Answer 7

you can use the sun for direction. always remember that sun always rises at the east and sets at west. so from morning before noon, the sun is at the east. after noon till later it starts showing up at west. so if you know where your east and west now, that'll be easy to figure out where your north and south are.

regarding with the police officer, it's easy. they know the geography of their place. for example. i live in california, here in San Francisco. i know what cities are south, east, and north of my cities. if im standing on the streets of san francisco and you ask me to point where is Milpitas or Santa Rosa, i can point where it is. just knowing that will help you with orientation with direction. so when ever i drive and go out of town, i know what direction im going to, whether it's north, east, south or west. i kind'a like i have a picture map of californina in my mind. and that's how i do with freeways also.

and an addition with the police knowing what bound their suspect is driving, there are also signs all over the road that will give them what direction their suspect is going to. but pretty much, knowing the geography of your place will give you a lot of help knowing where is north, east, south, west.

Answer 8

The guy above me is correct look at the sun. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.