The process of estimating position involves which of the following elements?

Estimating position is a critical aspect of navigation that relies heavily on the use of prior information combined with continuous monitoring of movement. The correct elements involved in this process are previous position, course, speed, and elapsed time.

Previous position provides the starting point for any navigation calculation. By knowing where you started, you can begin to chart where you are likely to be now. Course refers to the intended path or direction of travel, which, when combined with speed (the rate at which you are moving), indicates how far you should have moved in a given time frame. Elapsed time is crucial because it allows for the calculation of distance traveled based on speed—essentially, how long you have been moving in the designated course.

When all these elements are considered, they create a vector that helps in estimating the current position, despite not accounting for external factors like wind or current drift, which can affect actual position. These methods are fundamental to traditional navigation techniques, especially in situations where technology may not be available or when verifying data from other sources is necessary.