Circles

6 minQuiz at the end

Key Circle Vocabulary

  • Centre: the middle point
  • Radius (r): distance from centre to edge
  • Diameter (d): distance across the circle through the centre; d = 2r
  • Circumference: the perimeter (distance around) the circle
  • Chord: a line segment joining two points on the circle
  • Arc: part of the circumference
  • Sector: a "pizza slice" (two radii + arc)
  • Tangent: a line that touches the circle at exactly one point

Key Formulas

Circumference: C = Ο€d = 2Ο€r

Area: A = Ο€rΒ²

Example: circle with radius 5cm:

  • C = 2Ο€(5) = 10Ο€ β‰ˆ 31.4cm
  • A = Ο€(5Β²) = 25Ο€ β‰ˆ 78.5cmΒ²

Sectors

Arc length = (ΞΈ/360) Γ— 2Ο€r

Sector area = (ΞΈ/360) Γ— Ο€rΒ²

Circle Theorems

TheoremRule
Angle in semicircleAlways 90Β°
Angles in same segmentEqual
Angle at centreTwice angle at circumference
Opposite angles in cyclic quadrilateralSum to 180Β°
Tangent perpendicular to radiusAlways 90Β°
Tangents from external pointEqual length