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4.4 Degrees and Protractor

Degrees are the unit of measure used for angles, just as feet are used to measure distance. The symbol for degrees is "°". There are 360° in a full circle, and 90° in a right angle. A protractor is used for measuring angles. As shown below, a protractor is a half or full circle measuring device, marked in degrees along the outer edge, with a straight line running from 0° to 180°. There is a small hole in the center of the protractor. To use a protractor: 

  1. Place the hole of the protractor over the point of the angle where the lines meet.
  2. Make sure one side of the angle is on the zero line.
  3. Read the degrees off the protractor where the line of the other side is or mark a point along the edge at the appropriate angle measurement.

Protactor
 

 

Example 1 - Part A. Measure angles 1, 2, and 3 using a protractor to follow the steps above. 

Angles
 

You should find that the angles measure as follows: 

angle measurements

Part B. What is the sum of angles 1 and 2? How does that number compare to angle 3?

The sum of angles 1 and 2 is 180 degrees. Angle 3 also equals 180 degrees. Angle 3 is a straight line, so it follows that the sum of angles 1 and 2, 180°, is also a straight line.

Part C. Add angles 1, 2, and 3. The sum of angles 1, 2, and 3 equals 360 degrees.

There are 360 degrees in a circle and angles 1, 2, and 3 together complete the circle.

NWCG Latest Announcements

NWCG Training Catalog now on Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Date: April 25, 2023
Contact: NWCG Training  

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) has migrated the training catalog from the NWCG website to the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP) as part of our ongoing efforts to streamline processes and improve efficiency. To facilitate this transition, the training catalog remains available on www.nwcg.gov through April 2024.

Starting May 2024, the training catalog will no longer be accessible on www.nwcg.gov. However, you can still access the complete training catalog by logging in as a guest to the WFLP.

References:

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

 

NWCG Website Migration

Date: April 01, 2024
Contact: NWCG Webmaster

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group is thrilled to announce a significant upgrade to https://www.nwcg.gov, involving a comprehensive redesign of over 7,000 web pages. This enhancement is focused on improving user experience. The migration to the new NWCG website will commence on April 2, 2024, starting at noon EST and is expected to take a few hours. 

During the migration period, as the www.nwcg.gov domain-name-location updates across the Internet, you might encounter either the current or the new site depending on your location. We request your patience during this transition. If you are not redirected to the new site by April 3, 2024, we recommend clearing your browser’s cache and refreshing the page.

Please note that while navigating the revamped website, there may be instances of broken links or errors. Our dedicated web migration team has made significant efforts to minimize such issues prior to launch and will promptly address any that arise via use of analytic reports. We value your patience and understanding as we work towards enhancing your overall website experience.

WFSTAR 2023 Year in Review and 2024 Core Component Module Packages Available

Date: March 6, 2024
Contact: Joe Schindel 

The 2023 Fire Year in Review module and 2024 Core Component Module Packages for RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) are now available on the NWCG website. The 2024 Core Component Module Package provides all content needed to deliver RT-130.

 

References:

WFSTAR 2023 Fire Year in Review module

WFSTAR 2024 Core Component Module Packages

2024 NWCG Executive Board Annual Letter

Date: March 6, 2024
Contact: NWCG

The NWCG Executive Board is privileged to share with you the 2024 NWCG Executive Board Annual Letter. As we look into the future and navigate an incredibly complex and dynamic environment, we must remain focused on our mission while actively engaging in national conversations regarding numerous wildland fire initiatives. In 2024, we prioritize building upon our successes and committing to continuous improvement. Key priorities and considerations for this year include: 

  • Determining Core Workload
  • Ensuring Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) Success
  • Improving Efficiencies
  • Firefighter Health and Wellness
  • Engagement in National Conversations

Together we will continue to make significant strides in the challenging and vital work that lies ahead. 

 

References:

2024 NWCG Executive Board Annual Letter