6/8/23, 6:00 AM What is formula for solid angle labeled in the given figure as Omega?

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What is formula for solid angle labeled in the given figure as Ω?

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1 Answer

Shwetank Mauria
Dec 19, 2017 Related questions
2
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The solid angle Ω = π sin θ( ) steradians. shape of a molecule?
h
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Explanation:
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In simple language, one can say that a solid angle is a measure of how big an object
looks to an observer. Just consider sun. Although sun is very large as compared to How is vsepr used to classify
moon, to an observer on Earth it appears almost of the same size as that of moon. molecules?
What are the units used for the
Imagine we are standing at the center of a large sphere. Its surface area is 4πr . 2
ideal gas law?
Just like radian, where for angle we divide arc size by r to get angle in radians, we
How does Charle's law relate to
can say that the entire surface area of the sphere subtends a solid angle of
2
breathing?
4πr
= 4π steradians at the center. We can say that the angle subtended by a What is the ideal gas law constant?
2
r

surface area A at a distance of r is

A
steradians. How do you calculate the ideal gas
r
2
law constant?
How do you find density in the ideal
Hence, a solid angle Ω is the angle subtended by a surface, say given by the circle
gas law?
(in the image shown in the question) with radius r at a point situated at a distance
of h at an angle θ as shown in the image. Does ideal gas law apply to liquids?

However, observe that as we are looking at the circle at an angle and hence it will
appear as an ellipse. The appearance is as shown in the image below. Note that
while major axis will be same as 2r, the minor axis will be
2r cos(90 − θ) = 2r sin θ.
∘
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6/8/23, 6:00 AM What is formula for solid angle labeled in the given figure as Omega? | Socratic

As area of ellipse is given by πab, the area would be

πr
2
sin θ .

2 2
πr sin θ r
Hence, the solid angle Ω = = π sin θ( ) steradians.
2
h h
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