Thursday 28 July 2016

Facts About Digital Protractors & Electronic Protractors

By Carey Bourdier


A protractor is a basic geometric tool to help take angle measurements. They exist in various forms from the simple plastic protractor for school pupils, to sophisticated digital protractors. An electronic or digital protractor is a kind of a protractor that uses a digital read out instead of reading from a scale. The angle is shown on the digital screen. Some of these look like the traditional bevel protractor but the more modern ones resemble small boxes that can just be placed on a surface to read an angle. Electronic protractors are also known as digital inclinometers or digital angle gauges.

These electronic protractors are quite easy to use, but it is important to understand that you can utilize two different methods of measuring with these devices. You can take a horizontal measure and use a horizontal surface for your base. To do so, simply set your digital protractor into its horizontal mode and just rest it right on the surface of the angle you wish to measure.

With the relative measurement mode one can take measurements of two surfaces. You place the protractor on the first angled surface and take the readings, place zero to clear the reading and place the protractor on the second angled surface. The reading will show the difference between the first angle and the second.

There are literally dozens of professions that require the use of an electronic protractor. You see these used in fields such as carpentry and construction as well as with surveying and even geophysics. Using principles of trigonometry and armed with a digital protractor, one can measure the height of a building or tall trees in a vast forest. Often, the digital protractor will be a tool used to measure the slope or incline of land for a variety of land surveying jobs as well as civil engineering projects.

Additionally, electronic protractors can be used to measure drilling angles when drilling a well. You might also use this device to measure the rate and depth of a landslide or to monitor changes in a volcano. Astronomers can use a digital protractor to measure the angle of crux stars, while a doctor might measure the range of body part motion using this device. Even soldiers might use an electronic protractor to adjust angles for gun training and sniping.

There are many other uses for electronic protractors, and the world is full of important tasks where angles must be measured precisely. Among the many professions that utilize the digital protractor you will find volcanologists and geophysicists as well as all types of surveyors and engineers. Carpenters also use these devices and even a homeowner can use an electronic protractor to help with various household repairs and tasks.




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