Most of us grow up measuring angles in degrees—360 in a circle, 90 for a right angle, and so on. But at some point, radians enter the picture, and they can feel totally unfamiliar. So where do radian angles come from, and why do mathematicians and scientists prefer them?
In this episode, we take a deep dive into the concept of the radian, a unit of angle that’s built directly from the geometry of a circle. We’ll explore how radians are defined using arc length, why one full rotation equals 2π radians, and how this seemingly strange number actually makes many formulas in trigonometry, calculus, and physics simpler and more elegant.
You'll see why radians aren’t just an alternative to degrees—they’re a more natural and powerful way to understand rotation, oscillation, and circular motion. Whether you’re a student encountering radians for the first time or just curious about where mathematical ideas come from, this episode will help you see angles—and circles—in a whole new way.