<p>The units of radians are 'dropped' because unlike most units, they are dimensionless. Recall that the definition of radian angle measure is the ratio of the length of a circular arc to its radius. Thus, radian angle measures have units of $[\mathrm{Length}]/[\mathrm{Length}] \equiv 1$, i.e. dimensionless.</p>

<p>Radians are units in the sense that they give information about what standard the angle quantity is measured by. Thus, the convention of writing $\mathrm{rad}$ is useful in that it distinguishes it from other ways of measuring angles (e.g., in your question, arc-seconds), but in terms of dimensional analysis, $\mathrm{rad} \equiv 1$, so $\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{rad} = \mathrm{m}$.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-22T11:43:59.687Z
There are actually quite a lot of dimensionless units. And they are **real** units. Another dimensionless unit is for instance Magnitude (as a unit not a measurement scale).
Dieudonné
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-22T04:21:46.357Z
2015-01-22T04:21:46.357Z
Stan Liou
<p>The equation you are using is:</p>

<p>$$
\tan(\theta) = \frac{d}{D}
$$</p>

<p>which in the small angle approximation $\tan(\theta) \sim \theta$. But you have to take into account that $\theta$ has units of radians, where:</p>

<p>$$
1 \: radian = 3600 \times \frac{180}{\pi} \sim 206265 \: arcsecs.
$$</p>

<p>Then, the small angle approximation formula is:</p>

<p>$$
\frac{\theta}{206265} = \frac{d}{D} \: \Rightarrow \: \theta_{arcsecs} = 206265 \times \frac{d}{D},
$$</p>

<p>provided you use the same units for $d$ and $D$.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-22T11:36:11.600Z
But @user193041 already did convert the angle in arc seconds to radians. This is not an answer to the question.
Dieudonné
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-22T20:17:38.273Z
@user193041 already has units of arcsecs for the angle, I showed him/her how to use the equation without converting from arcsecs to radians, and explained that radians are not 'dropped'.
skytux
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-26T13:00:52.960Z
Yes, but the question was not on how to convert between arc seconds and radians, @user193041 already did that correctly in the question.
Dieudonné
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-26T22:52:31.257Z
I had the intention to answer the two questions the OP asked at the end of the question. Feel free to remove it if you think it doesn't answer the OP questions.
skytux
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-22T03:29:17.013Z
2015-01-22T03:35:54.870Z
2015-01-22T03:35:54.870Z
skytux
<p>I'd like to find the distance at which a 2.4 cm coin is subtended by an angle of 10". I've drawn my diagram and found that $D=\dfrac{d}{\alpha}$ using the small angle approximation. Since $10" = 4.85\times10^{-5}$ rad then $ D = \dfrac{2.4 \times 10^{-2} m}{4.85 \times 10^{-5}rad} = 495$</p>

<p>Are the units of distance in this calculation meters? In other words why would the units of radians be 'dropped'?</p>

<distances><units>
What are the units of distance in this subtended angle calculation?
user193041
# What are the units of distance in this subtended angle calculation?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-22)

I'd like to find the distance at which a 2.4 cm coin is subtended by an angle of 10". I've drawn my diagram and found that $D=\dfrac{d}{\alpha}$ using the small angle approximation. Since $10" = 4.85\times10^{-5}$ rad then $ D = \dfrac{2.4 \times 10^{-2} m}{4.85 \times 10^{-5}rad} = 495$

Are the units of distance in this calculation meters? In other words why would the units of radians be 'dropped'?

**Tags:** distances, units


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-01-22. Score: 2

The units of radians are 'dropped' because unlike most units, they are dimensionless. Recall that the definition of radian angle measure is the ratio of the length of a circular arc to its radius. Thus, radian angle measures have units of $[\mathrm{Length}]/[\mathrm{Length}] \equiv 1$, i.e. dimensionless.

Radians are units in the sense that they give information about what standard the angle quantity is measured by. Thus, the convention of writing $\mathrm{rad}$ is useful in that it distinguishes it from other ways of measuring angles (e.g., in your question, arc-seconds), but in terms of dimensional analysis, $\mathrm{rad} \equiv 1$, so $\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{rad} = \mathrm{m}$.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: There are actually quite a lot of dimensionless units. And they are **real** units. Another dimensionless unit is for instance Magnitude (as a unit not a measurement scale).  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2015-01-22. Score: 0

The equation you are using is:

$$
\tan(\theta) = \frac{d}{D}
$$

which in the small angle approximation $\tan(\theta) \sim \theta$. But you have to take into account that $\theta$ has units of radians, where:

$$
1 \: radian = 3600 \times \frac{180}{\pi} \sim 206265 \: arcsecs.
$$

Then, the small angle approximation formula is:

$$
\frac{\theta}{206265} = \frac{d}{D} \: \Rightarrow \: \theta\_{arcsecs} = 206265 \times \frac{d}{D},
$$

provided you use the same units for $d$ and $D$.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: But @username_0 already did convert the angle in arc seconds to radians. This is not an answer to the question.  
> **username_3**: @username_0 already has units of arcsecs for the angle, I showed him/her how to use the equation without converting from arcsecs to radians, and explained that radians are not 'dropped'.  
> **username_2**: Yes, but the question was not on how to convert between arc seconds and radians, @username_0 already did that correctly in the question.  
> **username_3**: I had the intention to answer the two questions the OP asked at the end of the question. Feel free to remove it if you think it doesn't answer the OP questions.  

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