Degree (angle)

Degree (angle)

A degree (symbol: °), in terms of angle measurement, is a unit of plane angle, representing 1/360 of a full rotation. It is not an SI unit, however, it is widely used in many areas of science, including physics, engineering, and geography.

History

The division of the full circle into 360 parts dates back to Babylonians in the 2nd millennium BC. They were known for their skills in astronomy, mathematics, and calendar calculations. The number 360 has 24 divisors, making it a convenient choice for representing the days of the year.

Measurement

The degree is commonly subdivided into 60 arcminutes per degree, and 60 arcseconds per arcminute. Hence, a circle has 360 degrees, each degree has 60 minutes, and each minute has 60 seconds. This system of subdivision is known as sexagesimal.

Conversion to other units

One degree equals π/180 radians, which is approximately 0.01745329252 radians. Conversely, one radian equals 180/π degrees, or approximately 57.29577951 degrees.

Applications

Degrees are widely used in many fields, including:

• Physics: to describe the phase difference between waves.
• Geography: to represent geographical coordinates.
• Engineering: to describe the size of angles in mechanical systems or the orientation of a component in a system.

See also

• Radian
• Minute of arc
• Second of arc
• Gradian
• Turn (geometry)

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  Diagram illustrating the concept of a degree in angles.
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  Equilateral chord with length equal to radius.
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  Conversion between degrees and radians.