Wednesday 8 May 2024

CIRCULAR MEASURE

Keywords:
radian
Starter:
How will you define an angle?
degrees
What is the unit of an angle?
Circle
area

H/W

Refer to CIRCULAR MEASURE ASSIGNMENT 1

 A sector can be defined as;
a piece of a circle that is cut out along two radiuses (radii).
If it is shaped like a single slice of pizza, it is a “Minor” sector.
The following example shows how to find the Arc Length of a “Minor” sector.
A Minor Sector is basically a small part of a circle, such as a single piece of
Pizza.
This example shows how to calculate the Arc
Length for a “Major” sector
Radians:
A
When two radii OA and OB are
drawn in a circle, the circle is
r s split into two sectors.
θ
O The smaller sector OAB is called
r B
the minor sector. The remainder
is the major sector.

If we denote the arc length of a sector by s, then we define the

angle θ to be 1 radian, when s = r.

Clearly, if θ = 2 radians, the arc length, s = 2r.

if θ = 3 radians, the arc length, s = 3r.
i.e. it follows that, arc length, s = r θ
(With θ measured in radians)
Now, since s = rθ

It follows that if θ = 2π radians, the arc length, s = 2π r.

However, 2π r is the circumference of the circle:

So: 2π = 360˚ π Generally:

= 60˚
3
π
= 1˚
180
π = 180˚ π
= 45˚
4
c 180˚
π π 1 = π
= 90˚ = 30˚
2 6

Note the small ‘c’ to denote radians, though often the abbreviation
rads. is used, and for multiples of π, it is usual to use no symbol.
Area of a sector:

r s The minor sector OAB is a fraction of

θ the whole circle.
O
r B

θ
i.e. The area of the sector, A = × π r2
360

But: 2π = 360˚  A = θ × π r2
2π

1 r2 θ
(So, if θ is measured in radians): A=
2
Example 1: A sector OPQ of a circle, radius 4cm, is shown. Given
that the angle θ is 1.5 radians, find the perimeter and
area of the minor sector.
P
Perimeter, p = 4 + 4 + arc PQ
4

θ Using: s = r θ
O
4 Q
 p = 8 + 4(1.5) = 8 + 6 = 14

i.e. The perimeter = 14cm

1 r2 θ 1 42 (1.5) = 8 (1.5)
The area is given by: A=  A=
2 2
= 12
i.e. The area is 12cm2.
Example 2: The diagram shows the cross- A
section of a large tent. OAB is
a sector of a circle, radius 6
6m. Given that OC = 8m, and B
the arc length AB is 2π m, 6
find the size of angle AOB α β
O 8 C
and hence find the exact area
of the cross-section OABC.
( Let AOB = α, BOC = β )
Using arc length, s=rθ  2π = 6α π
α=
π (β= –α = π )
2 6
3
1 r2 θ 1 62 π
Area of sector OAB, using A= = = 6π
2 2 3

1 a b sin C = 1 π
Area of triangle OBC, using A = (6)(8) sin = 12
2 2 6
Total area of cross-section = 6π + 12 m2.
Summary of key points:

Arc length is given by: s = rθ

1 r2 θ
Area of a sector is given by: A=
2

Note that for the above results, θ must be in radians.

Some key angles:

π
π = 180˚ = 90˚
2

π π π
= 60˚ = 45˚ = 30˚
3 4 6
TRIAL QUESTIONS OCT/NOV 2012 QP 11 Q 6
SOLUTION
OCT/NOV 2012 QP 12 Q 11
SOLUTION
OCT/NOV 2013 QP 11
OCT/NOV 2012 QP 11 Q 11