One of the fundamental lessons in geometry is the circle. The various applications of circles in our day-to-day activities demonstrate how crucial they are. We come across many things that are circular in shape every day; for instance, the sun, moon, planets, and even the tiniest atom all have circular shapes. In the real world, circles can be found in both the natural world and human-made creations.1

Circle

The Greek and Latin words for “hoop” and “ring” are the sources of the word “circle.”2 A circle is a two-dimensional shape in geometry, defined as a collection of equidistant points on a plane from a specific fixed point. The radius of a circle is the fixed distance from the center. The circle’s diameter is twice its radius.3, 4

Real-World Applications of Circles.

There are numerous uses for circles in architecture, landscaping, graphics, infrastructure, transportation, and other fields. Some of them are as follows:4,5

  • Circles have contributed significantly to civilization. Just look at how the invention of the wheel transformed society and our methods of transportation.
  • Circles are often used in the design of athletic tracks, recreational parks, building plans, roundabouts, Ferris wheels, etc., due to their symmetrical properties.
Ferris wheels
  • The use of circles is evident even in the manufacturing of spheres (balls, balloons, globes), cylinders (pipes, candles, buckets) and cones (ice cream cones, party hats, traffic cones).
  • The circle’s symmetrical properties are used by engineers to create a variety of objects, including clocks, cars, ships, airplanes, radios, telephones, wheelbarrows, air conditioners, rockets, and more.
clocks
  • Circles can even be a valuable tool when gardening, as they help determine how much space plants need to grow around them.
  • Architects use circles when designing buildings, especially when designing decorative features like domes, arches, round beams, and curved surfaces.
domes
  • Circles are used in graphics to rotate items on computer screens and convert 2D concepts into 3D representations.
  • Circles are used by GPS to determine distance. It locates points and determines their separations from the satellite using a circle theory.
satellite
  • Scientists use circles in a variety of ways, including when designing particle separators, trajectory calculations, estimating the size of far-off planets, and measuring craters.
  • Circles are used by seismologists to determine and locate the center of earthquakes.
earthquakes

The applications of circles are almost limitless. Visit BYJU’S FutureSchool Blog to find out more about the various math specialities, how they are applied in everyday life, and a range of other intriguing topics.

References:

  1. CIRCLE GEOMETRY The Improving Mathematics Education in Schools (TIMES) Project. (2011), from https://amsi.org.au/teacher_modules/pdfs/Circle_Geometry.pdf 
  2. circle | Etymology, origin and meaning of circle by etymonline. (n.d.). Retrieved August 30, 2022, from https://www.etymonline.com/word/circle 
  3. (PDF) A LESSON PLAN ON “Circle and Its Parts or the Terms Related To It.” (2019). Retrieved August 30, 2022, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331439467_A_LESSON_PLAN_ON_Circle_and_Its_Parts_or_the_Terms_Related_To_It 
  4. How Are Circles Used in Real Life? (2020). Retrieved August 30, 2022, from https://www.reference.com/world-view/circles-used-real-life-5a9cee1968769425 
  5. Applications of circles in the real world by Patrick Sawyer. (2014). Retrieved August 30, 2022, from https://prezi.com/jhnfzclxankh/applications-of-circles-in-the-real-world/ 
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