CIRCULAR SECTOR Meaning and
Definition
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A circular sector refers to a geometric shape formed by a portion of a circle. It is created by drawing two radii of a circle from the center point to two different points on its circumference, thus dividing the circle into two parts. The circular sector is characterized by its curved sides that follow the arc of the circle and its two radii, which serve as the boundaries of the sector.
The circular sector can be visualized as a slice of pie or a pizza slice, where the tip of the slice is the center of the circle and the curved sides represent the crust of the slice. The angle between the two radii at the center point is often used to define the sector's size; this is known as the central angle of the sector.
The area of a circular sector can be determined by calculating a fraction of the total area of the circle. The length of the curved arc that forms the boundaries of the sector can also be found by using the central angle. In terms of the length of the circumference of the entire circle, the length of the arc is proportional to the measure of the central angle.
Circular sectors are commonly used in mathematics, engineering, and various fields that involve measurements and calculations related to circular shapes. They are fundamental components in trigonometry, geometry, and calculus and find applications in real-life scenarios such as pie charts, clock angles, and sector-based calculations in various geometric designs and constructions.
Etymology of CIRCULAR SECTOR
The word "circular sector" has its etymology rooted in Latin and Greek.
The term "circular" originates from the Latin word "circulus", meaning "circle" or "ring". It developed in Medieval Latin as "circulāris" and was later adopted into English.
The term "sector" comes from the Latin word "sector", which means "cutter" or "one who cuts". This Latin word is derived from the verb "secare", meaning "to cut". The term was first used in English in the late 16th century.
When combined, "circular sector" refers to a portion of a circle that can be visualized as a pie slice or a segment created by two radii and an arc.
So, the etymology of the word "circular sector" can be traced back to the Latin and Greek roots associated with circles and cutting.
