Geometry
Rotations to cover a distance
A wheel advances one circumference per turn, which is how odometers and speedometers work.
The Formula
rotations = distance / circumference
A wheel advances one circumference per turn, which is how odometers and speedometers work.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | Rotations | turns | Number of full turns of the wheel. |
| D | Distance | metres | Distance to be covered. |
| C | Circumference | metres | Rolling circumference of the wheel. |
What Each Symbol Means
nturns
Rotations
Number of full turns of the wheel.
Dmetres
Distance
Distance to be covered.
Cmetres
Circumference
Rolling circumference of the wheel.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate the circumference of a circle page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate The Circumference Of A Circle, filed under Math. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.