Trigonometric Ratios and the Unit Circle Demo

Trigonometric Ratios and the Unit Circle Demo
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2012-08-22 13:39
① This example dynamically demonstrates the geometric meaning of sine, cosine, tangent and other trigonometric ratios as the central angle varies on the unit circle. ② Core concepts: unit‑circle definition of trig functions, ratio definitions (sin, cos, tan), angle measurement in radians and degrees, coordinate geometry relationships among points, segments, distances and angles. ③ Construction highlights: Point creates a movable point on the circle; OrthogonalLine draws the radius perpendicular to the tangent; Intersect finds the projection onto axes; Segment builds the right‑triangle legs; Distance measures leg lengths as function values; Angle measures the central angle α and drives the animation. ④ Suitable for high‑school trigonometry courses, teacher classroom demos, and student self‑exploration.

GeoGebra Commands & Parameters

  1. Point(c) → A
  2. OrthogonalLine(A, xAxis) → a
  3. Intersect(a, xAxis) → B
  4. Segment(B, A) → Y
  5. Intersect(xAxis, yAxis) → C
  6. Segment(C, A) → R
  7. Segment(C, B) → X
  8. Distance(C, B) → CB
  9. Distance(A, B) → AB
  10. Angle(B, C, A) → α