Degree to Turn Converter

A degree (°) is a unit of angular measurement equal to 1/360 of a full rotation. It divides a complete circle into 360 equal parts, making it one of the most widely used angle measurements.

The degree system originated with ancient Babylonian astronomers around 2000 BCE, who used a base-60 number system and divided the circle into 360 degrees. This choice was influenced by their calendar of approximately 360 days and the convenience of 360 being divisible by many numbers. The system was later adopted by Greek astronomers and has remained standard ever since.

Degrees are universally used in navigation, surveying, engineering, architecture, and everyday applications. They're standard for compass bearings, geographic coordinates (latitude/longitude), construction angles, and in most educational contexts. Weather reports, GPS systems, and most angle-measuring tools use degrees.

A turn is a unit of angular measurement representing one complete rotation or revolution, equal to 360 degrees or 2π radians. It represents the most fundamental concept of rotational measurement.

The concept of a complete turn or revolution has been understood since ancient times, but its formal use as a unit of measurement became more common in modern mathematics and engineering. It provides an intuitive way to express rotational quantities without conversion factors.

Turns are used in mechanical engineering for describing rotational speed (revolutions per minute), in computer graphics for rotation transformations, and in some mathematical contexts where full rotations are more natural than degrees or radians. They're also used in describing gear ratios and motor specifications.