Circular arc

A circular sector is shaded in green. Its curved boundary of length L is a circular arc.

A circular arc is the arc of a circle between a pair of distinct points. If the two points are not directly opposite each other, one of these arcs, the minor arc, subtends a central angle that is less than π radians (180 degrees); and the other arc, the major arc, subtends an angle greater than π radians. An arc of a circle is defined as a part of the circumference of the circle. A straight line that connects the two ends of an arc is known as a chord of the circle. If the length of an arc is exactly half of the circle, it is known as a semicircular arc.

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