Degree facts for kids

Degree is a word with many meanings! It can mean a level or a step, a unit of measurement, or even a special award you get from school. Let's explore the different ways we use the word "degree."

As a Unit of Measurement

A "degree" is often used as a unit to measure different things.

Measuring Angles and Location

• Degree (angle): This is a common way to measure angles. Think about a circle, which has 360 degrees. A right angle, like the corner of a square, is 90 degrees.
• Latitude and Longitude: When you look at a map, lines of latitude and longitude help us find exact locations on Earth. These lines are measured in degrees.
• Degree symbol (°): This little circle is used in science and math to show degrees, like 90°.

Measuring Temperature

• Degree (temperature): This is probably the most common use of "degree" you know! We use degrees to measure how hot or cold something is. Common temperature scales are Celsius and Fahrenheit, both using degrees.
• Degree of frost: This is a specific way to talk about how cold it is when the temperature is below freezing.

Other Measurements

• Degree API: This measures how light or heavy petroleum (like oil) is.
• Degree Brix: This measures how much sugar is in a liquid, like in fruit juice.
• Alcohol by volume (Degree Gay-Lussac): This tells you how much alcohol is in a drink. It ranges from 0° to 100°.
• Degree proof: Another way to measure alcohol content, especially in the UK and U.S.
• Degree of curvature: This is used in engineering to measure how much a road or railway track bends.
• Degrees of freedom (mechanics): In science, this describes how many ways an object can move or turn.
• Degrees of unsaturation: In chemistry, this helps scientists understand the structure of certain chemical compounds.
• dGH and degree KH: These measure the hardness of water, which is important for things like aquariums or plumbing.

In Mathematics

In math, "degree" can describe different properties of numbers or shapes.

• Degree of a polynomial: In algebra, a polynomial is an expression with variables and numbers. The "degree" is the highest power of the variable in that expression. For example, in `x^3 + 2x`, the degree is 3.
• Degree (graph theory): In graph theory (which studies networks of points and lines), the degree of a point (called a "vertex") is how many lines (called "edges") are connected to it.
• Degrees of freedom (statistics): In statistics, this helps us understand how many values in a calculation can change freely.

In Education

When you finish school or a special course, you might earn a "degree."

• Academic degree: This is an award given by colleges or universities when you complete a program of study. It shows you have learned a lot about a certain subject.
  • Associate's degree: This is usually a two-year degree from a community college.
  • Bachelor's degree: This is a four-year degree from a university, like a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS).
  • Master's degree: This is a degree you can get after your bachelor's, usually taking one to two more years of study.
  • Doctorate: This is the highest academic degree, like a PhD, which means you are an expert in your field.
• Honorary degree: Sometimes, universities give these degrees to famous or important people to honor their achievements, even if they didn't study there.
• Vocational degree: This award is given for completing training in a specific job skill, like welding or culinary arts.

Other Uses of "Degree"

The word "degree" also pops up in many other situations!

• Degree (music): In music, a "degree" refers to the position of a note within a musical scale.
• Degree of separation: This idea describes how connected people or groups are. For example, "six degrees of separation" suggests everyone is connected to everyone else through six or fewer steps.
• Degree of relationship: This describes how closely related people are in a family.
• Comparison (grammar): In grammar, words like "good," "better," and "best" show different "degrees" of comparison.
• Severity of a burn: Doctors describe burns by their degree (first, second, or third) to show how serious they are.
• Level of initiation: In some groups or clubs, "degree" can mean a level of membership or understanding you achieve.
• Black belt ranking: In martial arts, different levels of black belt are sometimes called "degrees."

Brands

• Degree (deodorant): This is a well-known brand of antiperspirant and deodorant products.