ARC LENGTH WEBQUEST

1. (5 pts) Learn new circle vocabulary- arc length and sector – by viewing the illustrations
above. Show your understanding by describing each of the new terms.

How would you define:

Arc length -

Sector –

How could an arc length relate to a sector?

From your knowledge of circumference and area, which new term would be measured in linear
units like circumference? ________________________
Which new term would be measured in square units like area? __________________________

2. (5 pts) Remember our proof that all circles are similar and our previous work with similar
triangles? Check out MathBitsNotebook.com to help you determine what makes figures similar.
What can you say about similarity?

3. (5 pts) Now that you remember what makes figures similar, let’s determine if sectors can be
similar. Let’s go to Geogebra to see. Interact with the applet, and decide if sectors can be
similar. Think about the central angle. What can you infer from your observation?

4. (10 pts) Corresponding measurements of similar figures are proportional to each other. Now
go to a different applet in Geogebra to determine if this is true for arc lengths of similar sectors.
(Be sure to check the Show Arc Length box.) You can change the radius by dragging the large
white circle. You can change the central angle by sliding the purple dot to the bottom right of
the circle. Think: How will you create 2 similar sectors? (remember what you discovered in #3)
Now, set up and evaluate 3 different proportions for 3 different pairs of similar sectors to
prove proportionality of corresponding measurements. What measurement is the arc length
proportional to? _______________________
3 proportions:
 ARC LENGTH WEBQUEST

5. (12 pts) Now let’s think of how the arc length of a circle relates to the circumference of a
circle. For the table below, use this OmniCalculator to calculate the arc length for each circle.
Then calculate the other columns on your own. Fill in the missing cells for the spreadsheet
below.

Radius Central 𝜃 Circumference 𝜃 Arc length

(C) ∙𝐶
Angle (q) 360 360 (s)

2.5 cm 180°

2 in 100°

4 ft 60°

3m 120°

6. (5 pts) Analyze the data in the spreadsheet. What can you infer about how the arc length
relates to the circumference of a circle?

7. (5 pts) Go to Math Open Reference and interact with the applet. Then read the text about
calculating the arc length of a circle. Express the formula below in words and in symbols (using
the variables in the spreadsheet above).

8. Now, let’s apply the formula for arc length to a real world situation. Read this article on Quora
to find out why runners in a 200 meter race don’t all line up at the same start line. Look at the
diagram below to see where the 200 m race starts and finishes.
 ARC LENGTH WEBQUEST

9. (10 pts) Next, take a look at this Reference which describes the dimensions of a standard 400
meter track. Demonstrate your understanding by drawing the track and labeling pertinent
measurements in the rectangle below. (The 5 cm white lines are already included in the 1.22 m
lane width.) Begin with the radius for where the runner in lane 1 actually runs (explained to be
36.5 m + 0.3 m), and calculate the radii corresponding to each lane.
 ARC LENGTH WEBQUEST

10. (8 pts) Fill out the spreadsheet below for a runner running a 200 m race.

Lane # Radius Semicircle Distance Total Distance Run

(arc length)
1 36.8 m
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

11. (9 pts) How much farther would the runner in lane 8 run than the runner in lane 1 if the
runners all started at the same start line (not staggered)? ________________________

How far ahead of the lane 1 start line does the staggered start line need to be for each lane so
that all runners run 200m?

Lane # Stagger Distance from Lane 1 Start Line

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

12. (16 pts) Now, you are in charge of marking the track’s staggered start lines. You have a
long rope attached to a pole in the center of the semicircular end in which the 200 m race
begins. Based on the stagger distances in the spreadsheet in #11, at what angles should the
stagger lines be drawn (if 0 degrees corresponds to the lane 1 start line- the beginning of the
semicircle)? Write the formula you used to find the angle and your answer in the “Angle”
column.

Lane # Angle
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
 ARC LENGTH WEBQUEST

13. (10 pts) Compare your answers to the table in this Running Track Geometry page which
lists starting positions for a 200 m race. How did you do? Did your answers match the answers
in the table? ________________
If not, what do you think the difference is from?

Apply your knowledge. Briefly explain if the stagger distances would be the same or different for
a 400 meter race.