John Travis
Mississippi College
Radian measure relates the measure of an angle in standard position to the length of the arc created by that angle on a unit circle.
For a given angle $\theta$ in radians, since the radius for the unit circle is $1$, then
$\sin(\theta)=y$
and
$\cos(\theta)=x$.
In the following interactive experiment, one can approximate the values of $\sin(\theta)$ and $\cos(\theta)$ for any given angle $\theta$ by finding the point of intersection with the unit circle.
Below, enter the desired angle in radians. Use the resulting coordinates (shown in the experiment) for the sine and cosine.
Plotting $x = \sin(s)$ and $y = \cos(s)$ is done by seting $\alpha = s$. The graphic illustrated the relationship between this radian measure angle $\alpha$ with the arclength $s$
Click to the left again to hide and once more to show the dynamic interactive window |
Click to the left again to hide and once more to show the dynamic interactive window |
|
Let's now create an animation...
|
The next two animations illustrate the relationship between the position of the ordered pair $(x,y)$ on a unit circle with a corresponding point on the graph of the sine and cosine curves respectively.
In particular, the y-coordinate on the unit circle relates to the y-value of the sine function.
$y = \sin(t)$
and the x-coordinate on the unit circle relates to the y-value of the cosine function.
$x = \cos(t)$
The calculation of this animation make take a little while so be patient. When the green bar to the left below is showing, the calculations are still being performed.
Graph comparing vertical-coordinate of point (x,y) on unit circle with y = sin(t)
Graph comparing vertical-coordinate of point (x,y) on unit circle with y = sin(t)
|
Graph comparing horizontal-coordinate of point (x,y) on unit circle with x = cos(t)
Graph comparing horizontal-coordinate of point (x,y) on unit circle with x = cos(t)
|
|