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← HistoryWhich navigational error increases when using a sextant repeatedly in strong winds onboard a sailing ship?
A)Parallax error correlating to lunar phase
B)Instrumental error due to frame distortion✓
C)Index error because of horizon refraction
D)Timing error relative to Greenwich time
💡 Explanation
When a sextant is repeatedly used in strong winds, frame distortion occurs because the brass construction is subjected to cyclical stress, leading to changing angular relationships and thereby increasing instrumental error. Therefore, instrumental error is more likely to increase, rather than parallax, index refraction, and time errors, which involve optical effects, atmospheric conditions, and chronometer accuracy, respectively.
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