Teacher

Finding Arc Length, l

Lesson 6.3 D

Objective:
l = r
SSBAT use the radian measure formula to
find an unknown distance or angle.
 r is the radius of circle
SSBAT find linear and angular speed.   is the RADIAN measure of the central angle

Standards: 2.10.11A

Examples 2. A circle has a radius of 4 inches. Find the

length of the arc intercepted by a central
1. Find the arc length if the central angle is angle of 240°. (l = r)
radians and the radius is 3 inches.
1st Change 240 Degrees to Radians

l=3· 240 degrees = radians

l =
3 and r = 4

l = ≈ 11 in
l = 4( )

l = or 16.76

3. The second hand on a clock is 6 inches long. 4. The second hand on a clock is 5 inches
How far does the tip of the second hand move long. How far does the tip of the second
in 15 seconds? (Formula: l = r) hand move in 1 minute 10 seconds?

1st: Find 
1st: Find 
7
15 1 70 seconds  70 or of a revolution
15 seconds  or of a revolution 6
60 4 60



1
2   Radians 
7
2   7 Radians
4 2 6 3

  3 7 35  36.65 inches

l = 6  9.4 inches l = 5 
2 3 3

1
 Teacher

5. Find the central angle measure (in radians) of

Linear Speed
an arc of length 5 cm on a circle with radius
of 3 cm. The measure of the speed of a point rotating at a
constant rate around the center of a circle, given as the
Given: l = 5 cm and r = 3  Need to find . distance that the point travels over time.

l = r Linear Speed measures how fast the point moves

5 = 3
arc length r
Linear Speed = 
= time t

5 r = radius,  = radian measure of angle, t = time

3

r Angular Speed 

Linear Speed 
t t
Angular Speed

 The measure of speed of a point rotating at a 1. A merry go round makes 8 revolutions per minute.
constant rate around the center of a circle, given
as the angle through which the point rotates over a) What is the angular speed of the merry-go-round
time. in radians per minute?

 It measures how fast the angle changes First find .

8 revolutions = 8(2) = 16 radians per minute

angle 
Angular Speed = 
time t  = 16
16
Angular Speed =  16 radians per minute
 = radian measure of angle and t = time 1

r  Linear Speed 
r 
Linear Speed  Angular Speed  t
Angular Speed 
t
t t
2. A circular mobile above a baby’s crib makes 5
1. A merry go round makes 8 revolutions per minute. revolutions per minute.

b) How fast is a horse 12 feet from the center a) What is the angular speed of the mobile in
traveling in feet per minute? radians per minute?
r = 12  = 16 t=1
First find .

12 16 5 revolutions = 5(2) = 10 radians per minute

Linear Speed =
1
Angular Speed = 10  10 radians per minute
1
 192 ft/min

 603.19 ft/min

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 Teacher

r 
Linear Speed  Angular Speed 
t t

2. A circular mobile above a baby’s crib makes 5

revolutions per minute.
Homework
b) How fast is a toy 9 inches from the center
traveling in inches per minute? Page 441 – 442
#53, 54, 55, 57, 62, 78, 79
r=9  = 10 t=1
And

9 10 Worksheet 6.3D homework

Linear Speed =  90  282.74 inches per min
1