Math 0032 Lecture Notes Section 6.

.4 Radians, Arc Length, and Angular Speed Most geometry students are well acquainted with the degree as the unit of measure of an angle. The degree was invented by the ancient Babylonians by dividing one rotation of a ray into 360 equal parts. Because it is the most common unit of measure for angles, most people have a good concrete grasp of what angles in degree measure look like. Ex: Sketch the following angles in standard position.

= 70

= 240

NOTE: It is critically important that the degree symbol is used when measuring in degrees! Another common unit of measure is called a radian. The definition of a radian is the central angle of a circle with an intersecting arc that is the length of the radius of the circle. This intersecting, or subtending arc, is usually labeled s.

The picture above shows a central angle with a measure of 1 radian. = 1 .

Note: When no degree symbol is used, an angle is assumed to be in radians! By rotating through more of the subtending arc, more radian measures can be sketched. Ex: Sketch the following angles below using the 1 radian angle as an aid:

=2

=4

= 2

It can be seen that the angle = 2 has a subtending arc that is the full circumference of the circle. This leads to two important definitions about radian measure. 1. The definition of an angle measured in radians is = s or r s = r .

2. The conversion factor for radian to degree measure can be obtained from the equation which simplifies to = 180 2 = 360

180 . Ex: Convert the following angle measurements from radians to degrees, then sketch them is standard position. 11 = = = 3.1 4 6 Converting from Radians to Degrees: Multiply by

NOTE: The special angles often appear as multiples of in radian measure. Converting from Degress to Radians: Multiply by

. 180

Ex: Convert the following angle measurements from degrees to radians.

= 176

= 210

= 135

Arc Length Arc length and central angle can be found using the definition of the radian above s = or s = r r NOTE: Since this is the definition of a radian, MUST be in radian measure when performing calculations. If degree measure is needed, convert after calculations are complete. Ex: What is the angle measure if a central angle with a radius of 120 cm. intersects a subtended arc of 132 cm. ?

Ex: A little league baseball field is to have an outfield fence that is an arc 200 feet away from home plate and goes from foul pole to foul pole (90). What length of fencing is needed?

Angular Velocity When both sides of the equation for the definition of a radian are divided by a unit of time, the resulting equation is s =r t t

Where object.

s is the linear velocity of the object and is the angular velocity of the t t s and = are used which yields the equation t t

Often the variables v = v = r

It is important to remember again that this formula is a direct result of the definition of a radian, therefore radian measure MUST be used in calculations. Conversion factors may be needed. EX: A centrifuge has an arm that is 8 feet long and the crucible at the end of the arm travels 60 ft./sec. What is the angular velocity of the centrifuge in degrees per second?

Often the angular velocity is given in revolutions per minute (RPM), the English unit of measure for angular velocity. The conversion factor needed here is: 1 revolution = 2 = 360 EX: A 24 inch diameter lawnmower blade has an angular velocity of 2000 RPM. What is the linear velocity at the tip of the blade in miles per hour?