Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Practice Exam

By the arc definition, the degree of curve is the central angle that subtends a 100 ft _____.

1. chord

2. line

3. arc

4. radius

The correct answer is: arc

The degree of curve is defined in surveying as the measure of the curvature of a circular arc. Specifically, it represents the central angle that subtends an arc length of 100 feet. In this context, the arc refers to the portion of the circle being measured, which directly relates to the curvature and how sharp the turn is. When considering the definition, it is important to note that the degree of curve provides a way to quantify the curvature of a roadway or a path, which is essential for design, especially in areas like highway engineering and civil construction. The specific measurement of 100 feet is a standard used in surveying to create a consistent framework for understanding curves, facilitating easier communication of road and rail design parameters. The other terms, such as chord, line, and radius, refer to different concepts in geometry related to circles but do not accurately describe what the degree of curve measures. The chord is a straight line connecting two points on the circumference, a line refers generally to a straight path, and the radius is the distance from the center of the circle to any point on its circumference. None of these directly relates to the subtended arc length used to define the degree of curve.