How Is the Solid Angle for a Circular Detector Calculated?

Click For Summary
The solid angle for a circular detector can be calculated using the formula Ω = A/r^2, where A is the area of the detector and r is the distance from the detector. For a 100 cm^2 circular detector at a distance of 1 m, the area is A = πr^2, leading to a radius of approximately 5.6 cm. However, this approach can lead to confusion, as it may result in circular reasoning and ultimately yield the solid angle of a sphere, which is 4π steradians. It's crucial to accurately assign values to the variables in the formulas to avoid errors. Understanding the definitions and relationships of the quantities involved is essential for correct calculations.
MickieDBaca
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
1. The solid angle subtended by a 100 cm^2 circular detector at a distance of 1 m is ______steradians.

2. Ω = A/r^2 and A =∏r^2 (area of a circle)

3. I originally tried to find r by solving 100 = ∏r^2 and I got r = 5.6. I then tried to plug into the first equation for Ω only to realize that really, I had just gone in a circle and ended up with 4∏, which is the measure of sphere in steradians. Then I tried the tangent (5.6/100) to find the angle in degrees... The answer is .01 but I am unsure why...
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
You need to keep in mind what the various quantities appearing in the formulas mean. Try again paying a bit more attention to which values go where.
 
Question: A clock's minute hand has length 4 and its hour hand has length 3. What is the distance between the tips at the moment when it is increasing most rapidly?(Putnam Exam Question) Answer: Making assumption that both the hands moves at constant angular velocities, the answer is ## \sqrt{7} .## But don't you think this assumption is somewhat doubtful and wrong?

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
15
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
16K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K