In angular measurement, which unit is defined as 60 of these make up a minute?

In angular measurement, which unit is defined as 60 of these make up a minute?

• A. Seconds
• B. Minutes
• C. Degrees
• D. Radians

Answer: (A)

Angles are commonly expressed in degrees, and we subdivide each degree into smaller parts by factors of 60. Specifically, sixty seconds of arc make up one arcminute, and sixty arcminutes make up one degree. That means the unit described as being 60 of these per minute is the second, in angular terms the arcsecond. So 60 arcseconds equal 1 arcminute, and 3600 arcseconds equal 1 degree. This is why the smallest widely used angular subdivision is the arcsecond.