Calculating the Radian Measure of a Central Angle
To find the radian measure of the central angle that intercepts a given arc length in a circle, we can use the formula:
θ = s / r
- θ is the central angle in radians.
- s is the length of the arc.
- r is the radius of the circle.
In this scenario, we have:
- Radius r = 80 kilometers
- Arc length s = 160 kilometers
Now, substituting the known values into the formula:
θ = 160 km / 80 km
Doing the calculation:
θ = 2 radians
Thus, the radian measure of the central angle that intercepts an arc length of 160 kilometers in a circle with a radius of 80 kilometers is 2 radians.
Understanding this relationship is essential in various fields such as physics, engineering, and even computer graphics, where circular paths and rotations are common.