Steradian

The steradian (symbol: sr) or square radian[1][2] is the SI unit of solid angle. It
Steradian
is used in three-dimensional geometry, and is analogous to the radian, which
quantifies planar angles. Whereas an angle in radians, projected onto a circle,
gives a length on the circumference, a solid angle in steradians, projected onto a
sphere, gives an area on the surface. The name is derived from the Greek
στερεός stereos 'solid' + radian.

The steradian, like the radian, is a dimensionless unit, the quotient of the area
subtended and the square of its distance from the center. Both the numerator and
denominator of this ratio have dimension length squared (i.e. L2/L2 = 1, A graphical representation of 1
dimensionless). It is useful, however, to distinguish between dimensionless steradian.
quantities of a different nature, so the symbol "sr" is used to indicate a solid The sphere has radius r, and in this
angle. For example, radiant intensity can be measured in watts per steradian case the area A of the highlighted
(W⋅sr−1). The steradian was formerly an SI supplementary unit, but this category surface patch is r2. The solid angle
was abolished in 1995 and the steradian is now considered an SI derived unit. Ω equals [A/r2] sr which is 1 sr in
this example. The entire sphere has
a solid angle of 4π sr.
Contents General information

Definition Unit system SI derived unit

Other properties Unit of Solid angle
SI multiples Symbol sr
See also Conversions
Notes
1 sr in ... ... is equal to ...
References
SI base units 1 m2/m2

Definition
A steradian can be defined as the solid angle subtended at the center of a unit sphere by a unit area on its surface. For a general
sphere of radius r, any portion of its surface with area A = r2 subtends one steradian at its center.[3]

The solid angle is related to the area it cuts out of a sphere:

where

A is the surface area of the spherical cap, ,

r is the radius of the sphere, and
sr is the unit, steradian.

Because the surface area A of a sphere is 4πr2, the definition implies that a sphere subtends 4π steradians (≈ 12.56637 sr) at its
center. By the same argument, the maximum solid angle that can be subtended at any point is 4π sr.
Other properties
If A = r2, it corresponds to the area of a spherical cap (A = 2πrh) (where h stands
1
for the "height" of the cap) and the relationship hr = 2π holds. Therefore, in this
case, one steradian corresponds to the plane (i.e. radian) angle of the cross-
section of a simple cone subtending the plane angle 2θ, with θ given by:

Section of cone (1) and spherical cap

(2) that subtend a solid angle of one
steradian inside a sphere
This angle corresponds to the plane aperture angle of 2θ ≈ 1.144 rad or 65.54°.

A steradian is also equal to the spherical area of a polygon having an angle

1 180° 2
excess of 1 radian, to 4π of a complete sphere, or to ( π ) ≈ 3282.80635 square degrees.

The solid angle of a cone whose cross-section subtends the angle 2θ is:

SI multiples
Millisteradians (msr) and microsteradians (μsr) are occasionally used to describe light and particle beams.[4][5] Other multiples
are rarely used.

Solid angles over 4π steradians—the solid angle of a full Euclidean sphere—are rarely encountered.

See also
n-sphere
Square degree
Spat (unit)
List of constellations by area

Notes

References
1. Stutzman, Warren L; Thiele, Gary A (2012-05-22). Antenna Theory and Design (https://books.google.com/books?
id=xhZRA1K57wIC&lpg=PA51&dq=steradian%20%22square%20radian%22&pg=PA51#v=onepage&q=steradia
n%20%22square%20radian%22&f=false). ISBN 978-0-470-57664-9.
2. Woolard, Edgar (2012-12-02). Spherical Astronomy (https://books.google.com/books?id=zLKQXGFUMPkC&lpg=
PA11&dq=steradian%20%22square%20radian%22&pg=PA11#v=onepage&q=steradian%20%22square%20radi
an%22&f=false). ISBN 978-0-323-14912-9.
3. "Steradian", McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, fifth edition, Sybil P. Parker, editor in chief.
McGraw-Hill, 1997. ISBN 0-07-052433-5.
 4. Stephen M. Shafroth, James Christopher Austin, Accelerator-based Atomic Physics: Techniques and
Applications, 1997, ISBN 1563964848, p. 333
5. R. Bracewell, Govind Swarup, "The Stanford microwave spectroheliograph antenna, a microsteradian pencil
beam interferometer" IRE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation 9:1:22-30 (1961)

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