A central angle is an angle whose apex (vertex) is the center O of a circle and whose legs (sides) are radii intersecting the circle in two distinct points A and B. Central angles are subtended by an arc between those two points, and the arc length is the central angle of a circle of radius one (measured in radians).[1] The central angle is also known as the arc's angular distance. The arc length spanned by a central angle on a sphere is called spherical distance.
The size of a central angle Θ is 0° < Θ < 360° or 0 < Θ < 2π (radians). When defining or drawing a central angle, in addition to specifying the points A and B, one must specify whether the angle being defined is the convex angle (<180°) or the reflex angle (>180°). Equivalently, one must specify whether the movement from point A to point B is clockwise or counterclockwise.
- ^ Clapham, C.; Nicholson, J. (2009). "Oxford Concise Dictionary of Mathematics, Central Angle" (PDF). Addison-Wesley. p. 122. Retrieved December 30, 2013.