Degree symbol facts for kids
The degree symbol (°) is a small, raised circle. You see it used in many places! For example, it shows:
- How hot or cold something is (like 10 °C or 50 °F).
- Angles in shapes or directions (like 90° for a right angle).
- How strong alcohol is.
- Even in music to describe certain chords!
It's a very useful symbol that helps us understand measurements and descriptions quickly.
Contents
History of the Degree Symbol
The degree symbol has been around for a long time. People first started using it in mathematics around 1657. It looked like a tiny raised zero.
Why a zero? Well, back then, people used special symbols for parts of a degree, like minutes (′) and seconds (″). These symbols looked like small Roman numerals. So, the degree symbol was made to look similar, like a small zero, to fit in with these other symbols.
How to Use the Degree Symbol
The way you write the degree symbol can depend on what you're measuring.
Angles
When you're talking about angles, the degree symbol usually goes right after the number, with no space in between.
- For example, a right angle is written as 90°.
- If you're being very precise and including minutes and seconds of an angle, you'd put spaces between the different units, but not between the number and its symbol. For instance, 30° 12′ 5″ means 30 degrees, 12 minutes, and 5 seconds.
Temperature
For temperatures, it can be a little different.
- Some important science groups suggest putting a space between the number and the degree symbol, especially when you add "C" for Celsius or "F" for Fahrenheit. For example, 10 °C or 50 °F.
- However, many books and scientific papers, especially from universities, often print it without a space, like 10°C or 50°F. Both ways are common!
Kelvin Temperature
It's important to know that the degree symbol is not used with kelvin (K), which is another way to measure temperature. In 1967, scientists decided that the unit "kelvin" would simply be "K" and would not use the degree symbol. So, you would write 273.16 K, not 273.16 °K.
Other Uses
In photography, the degree symbol is sometimes used to show how sensitive film is to light. For example, you might see 21° DIN.
Images for kids
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A robot illustration.
