On Fri, 27 Sep 2002, Carl Sorenson wrote: > ... > The radian is not a base unit; it is an SI derived unit with a special name. > SI derived units are defined by multiplying and dividing base units without > numerical factors.
Yes. > The whole circle would not fit into this pattern as far as I can see. False. 2 pi r / r = 2 pi radians, the angle subtended by a full circle. > Clearly, the radian is not very practical for many uses, ... False. Practicality is a matter of education and habit. The radian can be scaled by prefixes just as any other SI unit can be scaled; for example milliradian (mrad). > > Marcus wrote: > >Unfortunately due to the mathematical reality of angles there simply is no > chance for the radian "unit" to be "replaced" or discarded. Radians are > actually just like a math... "reality", so to speak, just like the "golden > rule" is the square root of two, if you know what I mean. Marcus states the facts correctly (*after* deletion of his first word; delete the word unfortunately). Gene.
