About Degrees
Degrees (symbol: °) are a unit of measurement used to quantify angles in geometry and trigonometry. An angle is formed when two lines or rays intersect, and degrees are used to measure the amount of rotation between these lines or rays. The concept of degrees dates back to ancient civilizations, with the Babylonians being credited with the development of the sexagesimal system, which divided a circle into 360 equal parts.
In the sexagesimal system, a full circle is divided into 360 degrees, with each degree further divided into 60 minutes (symbol: '). Each minute is then divided into 60 seconds (symbol: "). This system allows for precise measurement of angles, with smaller units providing greater accuracy. Degrees are commonly used in various fields, including mathematics, physics, engineering, and navigation.
Degrees are a versatile unit of measurement, allowing for easy conversion between different angular units. For example, radians, another commonly used unit for measuring angles, can be converted to degrees by multiplying the value by 180/π (approximately 57.3°). Similarly, degrees can be converted to radians by multiplying the value by π/180. This flexibility makes degrees a convenient choice for expressing angles in everyday life and scientific calculations.
About US WW2 Milliradians
During World War II, milliradians (mils) and radians played a crucial role in various military operations. Milliradians are a unit of angular measurement commonly used in artillery and long-range shooting. They are derived from the concept of a radian, which is the angle subtended at the center of a circle by an arc equal in length to the radius of the circle. A milliradian is equal to one-thousandth of a radian, making it a more precise unit for measuring small angles.
In the context of World War II, milliradians were used extensively by artillery units to calculate the elevation and azimuth angles required to accurately hit targets at long distances. Artillery gunners would use specialized instruments, such as the M2A2 aiming circle, to measure the angle between the target and the gun. By converting this angle into milliradians, gunners could then adjust the elevation and direction of the gun to ensure accurate fire. This was particularly important in situations where targets were located far away or obscured by terrain, as milliradians allowed for precise adjustments to be made, increasing the chances of hitting the target successfully.
There are 4,000 US WW2 milliradians in a full circle.