Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Practice Exam

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

1. arc

2. angle

3. chord

4. line

The correct answer is: chord

The degree of curve, according to the chord definition, specifically refers to the central angle that subtends a 100-foot chord. This terminology is used in surveying and civil engineering to describe how tightly a road or railway turns. The central angle is the angle formed at the center of the curve by two radii that extend to the endpoints of the chord, which in this case is a straight line of 100 feet connecting those two points on the arc of the curve. Understanding this concept is crucial because it helps in calculating the geometry of curves, which is essential for designing safe and efficient roads and other structures. The definition emphasizes that the measurement is based on a chord rather than an arc or any other line, since a chord is specifically the straight line that connects two points on a curve, making it central to the definition and calculation of curves in surveying.