Commercial Pilot License (CPL) Practice Exam 2025 – The Complete All-in-One Guide to Achieve Your Pilot Certification Success!

During acceleration, a magnetic compass can be affected by the forces acting upon it, which can result in seemingly erratic behavior. When an aircraft accelerates, the inertia of the magnetic compass causes it to lag behind. This means that instead of accurately indicating the current heading, the compass may temporarily point in a direction influenced by the initial position before the acceleration begins to take effect.

In the context of the question, the idea that acceleration causes the compass to "accelerate north" reflects how the compass may not maintain a steady reading due to the forces acting upon it. Specifically, when an aircraft accelerates to the north, the compass may lean or tilt in a way that temporarily makes it appear as if it is indicating a turn towards the north, even if the aircraft is flying straight.

This behavior of the compass during acceleration can cause confusion for pilots, making it crucial to understand how external forces can impact navigation instruments. Therefore, the understanding of how a compass behaves under acceleration is essential for maintaining accurate navigation and heading awareness during flight operations.