History/origin: The origin of the degree as a unit of rotation and angles is not clear. Although a degree is not an SI (International System of Units) unit, it is an accepted unit within the SI brochure.
Because a full rotation equals 2π radians, one degree is equivalent to π/180 radians. Degreeĭefinition: A degree (symbol: °) is a unit of angular measurement defined by a full rotation of 360 degrees. History/origin: The term 'minute' is derived from the Latin 'pars minuta prima' which means the 'first small part.' The minute was originally defined as 1/60 of an hour (60 seconds), based on the average period of Earth's rotation relative to the sun, known as a mean solar day.Ĭurrent use: The minute, as a multiple of the second, is used for all manner of measurements of duration, from timing races, measuring cooking or baking times, number of heart beats per minute, to any number of other applications.
Under Coordinated Universal Time, a minute can have a leap second, making the minute equal to 61 rather than 60 seconds. Definition: A minute (symbol: min) is a unit of time based on the second, the base unit of the International System of Units (SI).
