Substended angle, diameter question

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The discussion revolves around a problem involving the moon's diameter as it subtends an angle of 0.52 degrees from Earth, located 3.8x10^5 km away. The initial approach used the formula S=R x theta, but confusion arose regarding the angle's unit conversion from degrees to radians. After some trial and error, it was confirmed that converting the angle to radians yields the correct diameter of approximately 3500 km. Additionally, an alternative method using trigonometric principles was suggested to find the solution. Understanding the conversion of angles is crucial for solving such problems accurately.
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We are on lesson 1 and 2, which are vectors and kinematics only. We haven't covered anything else, yet the professor assigned us this problem. Can anybody help me? I have searched google and have yet to understand this problem. Thank you!

To an observer on earth, the moon, which is 3.8x10^5 km away, substends an angle of 0.52 degrees. What is the moons diameter?



Homework Equations


I found on google that S=R x theta


The Attempt at a Solution


The answer is 3500 km, but no matter what configuration I put these values into the equation, I still don't get the right answer.
 
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I think you have to convert the angle in degrees to an angle in radians for the formula to work? Try that.
 
thank you! yes that works!
 
alternatively (keeping theta in degrees),
recall from trigonometry, how to determine the length of a http://www.csgnetwork.com/trigtriformulatables.html". :rolleyes:
 
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