Glossary
An angular measurement is like measuring the size of a piece of pie. The bigger the angle, the bigger the piece of pie.
Angular measurements are normally given in degrees, minutes and seconds. For some high level calculations you will measure angles in radians and gradians.
Most engineering measurements are given in degrees alone, although rarely an angle might be measured to degrees and minutes, or degrees and a single decimal.
To measure the angle from an engineering component, use the protractor part of a combination set.
A combination set consists of a blade and a square head and it has a clamp that locks the blade into any position.
Place the top of the straight edge along one side of the component and tilt the protractor head until the straight part of it exactly aligns along the other edge. The angle can then be read directly from the calibrated scale on the protractor
For more accurate measurements a verner protractor can be used. This will allow angles to be measured to an accuracy of five minutes (one twelfth of a degree).
