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Acute Angle : Definition, Formula, Degrees, Images, Applications and Examples

Acute Angle : Definition, Formula, Degrees, Images, Applications and Examples

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Jul 02, 2025 05:28 PM IST

We define acute angle as an angle which measures less than $90^{\circ}$. When the clock strikes $4: 30$, the angle made by the hands is an example of acute angle. Angles such as $33^\circ$, $65^\circ$ degree are all examples of acute angles. Numerous figures like triangle, parallelogram, trapezoid, etc. have at least one acute angle. Hence we can say that it is very commonly found around us in various shapes and forms. Acute angles are an integral part of architecture, construction and physics when defining motion and projectiles.

This Story also Contains
  1. What is an Acute Angle?
  2. What is Acute Angle Triangle?
  3. Acute Angle Degree
  4. Acute Angle Examples from daily life
  5. Acute Angle Examples
Acute Angle : Definition, Formula, Degrees, Images, Applications and Examples
Acute Angle : Definition, Formula, Degrees, Images, Applications and Examples

In this article we will learn about the definition of acute angle, acute angle meaning, what is acute angle triangle and much more.

What is an Acute Angle?

If we go by the definition of acute angle, we can say that when the angle formed when 2 rays meet at a vertex measures less than $90^{\circ}$, then it is termed as an acute angle. It means that its measure should always be less than 90 degrees and this condition has to be always fulfilled to classify an angle as acute angle.


Acute Angle Definition

We can say that an acute angle is defined as an angle that always measures in the range of $0^{\circ}$ to $90^{\circ}$. Few examples of acute angles are $60^{\circ}, 30^{\circ}, 45^{\circ}$ etc.

Acute angle Images

The below diagrams shows the acute angle images measuring $30^{\circ}$ and $20^{\circ}$

What is Acute Angle Triangle?

When all the internal angles are less than 90 degrees, then it is an acute angle triangle. For example ,consider triangle XYZ below :


Acute Angle Degree

Examples of acute angle degrees are $64^{\circ}, 32^{\circ}, 40^{\circ}, 69^{\circ}, 80^{\circ}, 22^{\circ}$.

Acute Angle Examples from daily life

Some real-life examples of acute angles:

  • A pair of open scissors.
  • Slices of pizza.
  • Hands of a clock.

Acute Angle Examples

Following are few more examples of acute angle:

Example 1: Choose the angles which can be classified as acute angles.


Solution:

Option a) $50^{\circ}$ is less than $90^{\circ}$. Therefore, it is an acute angle.
Option b) $107^{\circ}$ is more than $90^{\circ}$. Therefore, it is not an acute angle, it is an obtuse angle.
Option c) $101^{\circ}$ is more than $90^{\circ}$. Therefore, it is not an acute angle, it is an obtuse angle.
Option d) $20^{\circ}$ is less than $90^{\circ}$. Therefore, it is an acute angle.

Example 2: Observe the clocks shown below carefully and identify the times at which the hands form an acute angle.


Solution:

We can observe that at 10 o'clock and 11 o'clock, the hour hand and the minute hand form an acute angle.

Therefore, an acute angle is formed by the clocks at 10 o'clock and 11 o'clock.

Example 3: Is the following triangle acute?


Solution:

All the 3 angles inside an acute triangle should measure less than $90^{\circ}$. From the figure, we can see that two angles measure $45^{\circ}$ each and $\angle \mathrm{Y}$ is $90^{\circ}$. Hence, this is not an acute triangle, but a right-angled triangle.

Example 4: Find y in the given triangle and state whether it is an acute angle triangle.


Solution:

As we know,
The sum of the interior angles in a triangle is $180^{\circ}$,
Thus,
In $\triangle \mathrm{PQR}$,

$
\begin{aligned}
& 70^{\circ}+\angle \mathrm{R}+60^{\circ}=180^{\circ} \\
& \angle \mathrm{R}=180^{\circ}-\left(60^{\circ}+70^{\circ}\right) \\
& \angle \mathrm{R}=\left(\mathrm{y}^{\circ}\right)=50^{\circ}
\end{aligned}
$

$
\angle \mathrm{P}+\angle \mathrm{Q}+\angle \mathrm{R}=180^{\circ} \text {, (angle sum property of triangle). }
$

Since all three angles $\angle \mathrm{P}, \angle \mathrm{Q}, \angle \mathrm{R}$ measure less than $90^{\circ}, \triangle \mathrm{PQR}$ is an acute angle triangle

Example 5: Identify the acute angles in the given polygon PQRST.

Solution:

Sum of the interior angles of a pentagon $=540^{\circ}$
Now,

$
\begin{aligned}
& \angle \mathrm{P}+\angle \mathrm{Q}+\angle \mathrm{R}+\angle \mathrm{S}+\angle \mathrm{T}=540^{\circ} \\
& 80^{\circ}+150^{\circ}+\angle \mathrm{R}+95^{\circ}+138^{\circ}=540^{\circ} \\
& \angle \mathrm{R}=540^{\circ}-463^{\circ} \\
& \angle \mathrm{R}=\left(\mathrm{x}^{\circ}\right)=77^{\circ}
\end{aligned}
$

Thus, $\angle \mathrm{P}$ and $\angle \mathrm{R}$ measure less than $90^{\circ}$ and are acute angles.

List of Topics Related to Acute Angle

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is acute angle?

An acute angle is an angle that measures less than $90^{\circ}$. For example, $35^{\circ}, 60^{\circ}, 72^{\circ}$, etc.

2. What are some examples of acute angles?

Acute angles are angles that measure less than $90^{\circ}$. Hence, $10^{\circ}, 20^{\circ}, 55^{\circ}$, and $80^{\circ}$ are some examples of acute angles.

3. How do we find the measure of an acute angle?

Acute angles can be measured with the help of a protractor.

4. What do we mean by acute angle triangle?

An acute angle triangle is one in which all the internal angles are less than $90^{\circ}$. For example, an equilateral triangle.

5. What is meaning of acute angle?

Angle of an acute angle is always less than 90 .

6. What is 75 degree angle name?

75 degree is also an acute angle since it lies between the range of 0 and 90 degrees.

7. What is an acute angle?
An acute angle is an angle that measures less than 90 degrees. It's smaller than a right angle but larger than 0 degrees. Imagine opening a book slightly - the angle formed between the cover and the pages is usually acute.
8. How does an acute angle differ from other types of angles?
Acute angles are smaller than 90 degrees, while right angles are exactly 90 degrees, obtuse angles are between 90 and 180 degrees, and reflex angles are greater than 180 degrees but less than 360 degrees. Acute angles are the "smallest" category of angles in terms of measurement.
9. Can two acute angles form a right angle?
Yes, two acute angles can add up to form a right angle (90 degrees). For example, a 45° angle and a 45° angle, when combined, form a 90° right angle. Any two acute angles that sum to 90° will create a right angle when put together.
10. What's the largest possible measure for an acute angle?
The largest possible measure for an acute angle is just slightly less than 90 degrees. As soon as an angle reaches 90 degrees, it becomes a right angle. So, an acute angle can be 89.99999... degrees, but not quite 90 degrees.
11. Are all angles in an equilateral triangle acute?
Yes, all angles in an equilateral triangle are acute. Each angle in an equilateral triangle measures 60 degrees, which is less than 90 degrees, making them all acute angles.
12. What's the relationship between acute angles and complementary angles?
Complementary angles are two angles that add up to 90 degrees. Since acute angles are less than 90 degrees, any pair of complementary angles must include at least one acute angle. In fact, if both angles are acute, they will be complementary.
13. Can a circle have acute angles?
A perfect circle doesn't have any angles because it has no straight sides or vertices. However, when we inscribe shapes within a circle or draw tangent lines to a circle, we can create acute angles. For example, an equilateral triangle inscribed in a circle will have three 60° acute angles.
14. How do acute angles relate to parallel lines?
When a line intersects two parallel lines, it creates several angles. Some of these angles are acute, while others are obtuse. The acute and obtuse angles always appear in pairs and are supplementary (add up to 180°). Understanding acute angles helps in analyzing the properties of parallel lines and transversals.
15. What's the connection between acute angles and supplementary angles?
Supplementary angles are two angles that add up to 180 degrees. An acute angle will always have a supplementary angle that is obtuse (greater than 90 degrees). For example, a 30° acute angle has a 150° obtuse supplementary angle.
16. How do acute angles affect the area of a triangle?
The size of the acute angles in a triangle affects its shape and, consequently, its area. For a given base length, as the apex angle (the angle opposite the base) becomes more acute, the height of the triangle increases, resulting in a larger area. This relationship is described by the sine function in trigonometry.
17. How do acute angles relate to vector operations?
In vector mathematics, the acute angle between two vectors determines their dot product. When two vectors form an acute angle, their dot product is positive. This concept is crucial in physics for understanding force components and in computer graphics for lighting calculations.
18. How are acute angles used in navigation?
Acute angles are crucial in navigation, especially in maritime and aviation contexts. They're used to determine bearings, which are often expressed as acute angles from a reference direction (like true north). Understanding acute angles helps in plotting courses and determining positions.
19. Can an acute angle be trisected using only a compass and straightedge?
The trisection of an arbitrary angle (including acute angles) using only a compass and straightedge is one of the famous impossible geometric constructions. While it's possible to bisect an angle with these tools, trisecting it is not generally possible, which led to important developments in algebra and geometry.
20. How do acute angles relate to the concept of similarity in geometry?
Two shapes are similar if they have the same shape but possibly different sizes. For polygons, this means their corresponding angles are equal. If two triangles are similar and one has all acute angles, the other must also have all acute angles. This concept is fundamental in scaling and proportional reasoning.
21. What's the relationship between acute angles and the golden ratio?
The golden ratio, approximately 1.618, appears in a pentagon in relation to its acute angles. The acute angle between a diagonal and a side of a regular pentagon is approximately 31.7°, which is derived from the golden ratio. This angle plays a role in art, architecture, and natural formations.
22. How do acute angles affect the behavior of light in optics?
In optics, the behavior of light when it passes between different media (like air and water) depends on the angle of incidence. When light enters a denser medium at an acute angle, it bends towards the normal line. This principle, known as refraction, is crucial in designing lenses, prisms, and optical fibers.
23. Can an acute angle be constructed using origami techniques?
Yes, various acute angles can be constructed using origami (paper folding) techniques. For example, folding a square paper in half diagonally creates a 45° angle. More complex folds can create other specific acute angles. Origami has been shown to be more powerful than compass and straightedge in some geometric constructions.
24. What's the connection between acute angles and fractals?
Many fractal shapes involve repeated patterns of acute angles. For example, the Koch snowflake is created by repeatedly replacing the middle third of each line segment with two lines that form an acute angle of 60°. This process creates a complex shape with an infinite perimeter but finite area, demonstrating how acute angles can lead to fascinating mathematical properties.
25. How do acute angles affect the stability of structures in engineering?
In engineering and architecture, the use of acute angles can significantly affect a structure's stability. Acute angles in trusses and support beams can distribute forces effectively, but very acute angles might create weak points. Understanding how forces act along acute angles is crucial for designing stable bridges, buildings, and other structures.
26. Can acute angles be used to describe spiral patterns in nature?
Yes, many spiral patterns in nature can be described using acute angles. The golden spiral, often found in shells and plant growth, is based on a series of quarter-circles where each new quarter-circle's radius is related to the previous one by the golden ratio. The acute angle between successive radii in this spiral is constant, approximately 78.5°.
27. How do acute angles relate to the concept of perspective in art?
In art, perspective drawing often involves acute angles. The vanishing point technique uses acute angles to create the illusion of depth and distance. Objects appear smaller as they recede into the distance, and the acute angles formed by their edges converge towards vanishing points, creating a realistic three-dimensional effect on a two-dimensional surface.
28. Can acute angles help in understanding planetary orbits?
Yes, acute angles play a role in understanding planetary orbits. In Kepler's laws of planetary motion, the orbit of a planet is an ellipse with the sun at one focus. The acute angle between the planet's current position vector and its velocity vector varies as it orbits, helping to describe the planet's speed and position at different points in its orbit.
29. How do acute angles relate to the concept of tessellation?
Tessellations are patterns that cover a plane with no gaps or overlaps. Many tessellating shapes involve acute angles. For example, equilateral triangles, which have 60° acute angles at each vertex, can tessellate perfectly. Understanding how acute angles fit together is crucial for creating and analyzing tessellations in art, architecture, and mathematics.
30. What's the significance of acute angles in aerodynamics?
In aerodynamics, the acute angle of attack (the angle between the chord line of an airfoil and the oncoming air flow) is crucial for generating lift. Too small an angle may not generate enough lift, while too large an angle (though still acute) can cause stalling. Understanding these acute angles is vital for aircraft design and operation.
31. How do acute angles relate to the concept of symmetry?
Acute angles often play a role in various types of symmetry. In rotational symmetry, for instance, the acute angle of rotation that brings a shape back to its original position is significant. For example, an equilateral triangle has 120° rotational symmetry, which can be thought of as three successive rotations of the acute angle 40°.
32. Can acute angles be used to describe wave phenomena?
Yes, acute angles are often used to describe various aspects of wave phenomena. In physics, the acute angle between a wave's direction of propagation and a surface affects how the wave is reflected or refracted. This is crucial in understanding optics, acoustics, and even quantum mechanics where wave behavior is fundamental.
33. How do acute angles relate to the golden angle in phyllotaxis?
The golden angle, approximately 137.5°, is a key concept in phyllotaxis (the arrangement of leaves on a plant stem). While not acute itself, it's closely related to acute angles. Each new leaf or petal grows at this angle relative to the previous one, creating spiral patterns. The complementary angle to the golden angle (about 222.5°) is acute and also plays a role in these natural patterns.
34. What role do acute angles play in the design of gears?
In gear design, the pressure angle, which is typically an acute angle, is crucial. This angle affects how force is transmitted between gears and influences their efficiency and wear characteristics. Most gears use a standard pressure angle of 20° or 14.5°, both of which are acute angles.
35. How are acute angles used in cartography and map projections?
In cartography, acute angles are important in various map projections. For example, in the Mercator projection, the acute angle between meridians (lines of longitude) is preserved, which makes it useful for navigation. Understanding how acute angles on a spherical Earth translate to a flat map is crucial for accurate cartography.
36. Can acute angles help explain the behavior of subatomic particles?
In quantum mechanics, acute angles appear in various contexts. For instance, the acute angle between the spin axes of entangled particles can be used to test Bell's inequalities, a fundamental concept in quantum theory. Understanding these acute angles is crucial for interpreting quantum experiments and developing quantum technologies.
37. How do acute angles relate to the concept of parallax in astronomy?
Parallax in astronomy involves very small acute angles. It's the apparent change in position of a celestial object when viewed from different points in Earth's orbit. These tiny acute angles allow astronomers to calculate the distances to nearby stars. The smaller the acute angle of parallax, the further away the star is.
38. What's the significance of acute angles in the design of cutting tools?
The sharpness and efficiency of cutting tools often depend on acute angles. The edge angle (the acute angle at the cutting edge) affects how easily the tool cuts and how long it stays sharp. Different materials and cutting tasks require different acute angles for optimal performance, making this understanding crucial in tool design and manufacturing.
39. How do acute angles relate to the concept of refraction in optics?
In optics, the acute angle of incidence (the angle between a ray of light and the normal to a surface) determines how light is refracted when passing between media of different densities. Snell's law, which describes this relationship, involves the sines of these acute angles. This principle is fundamental in designing lenses, prisms, and optical fibers.
40. How are acute angles used in the design of antennas?
In antenna design, the acute angles between elements can significantly affect performance. For instance, in a Yagi-Uda antenna, the acute angles between the driven element and directors influence the antenna's directionality and gain. Understanding these acute angles is crucial for optimizing antenna designs for various applications, from radio to satellite communications.
41. Can a triangle have more than two acute angles?
Yes, a triangle can have three acute angles. In fact, any triangle that doesn't have a right angle (90 degrees) or an obtuse angle (>90 degrees) will have three acute angles. These are called acute triangles.
42. How do you determine if an angle is acute without measuring it?
You can visually estimate if an angle is acute by comparing it to a right angle (90 degrees). If the angle appears smaller or "tighter" than a right angle, it's likely acute. Imagining a corner of a square can help as a reference for a right angle.
43. Can an acute angle be negative?
No, an acute angle cannot be negative. Angles are measured from 0 degrees and upward. A negative angle would simply be measured in the opposite direction, but would still be positive. Acute angles are always between 0 and 90 degrees.
44. How does the concept of acute angles apply in real life?
Acute angles are found in many real-life situations. They appear in architecture (roof pitches), engineering (ramps and inclines), sports (golf club angles), art (perspective drawing), and even in nature (tree branches). Understanding acute angles helps in designing, constructing, and analyzing various structures and objects.
45. What's the difference between an acute angle and an acute triangle?
An acute angle is a single angle measuring less than 90 degrees. An acute triangle, on the other hand, is a triangle in which all three angles are acute (less than 90 degrees). While an acute angle is a component, an acute triangle is a complete shape defined by its angles.
46. What's the smallest possible acute angle?
Theoretically, the smallest possible acute angle is just slightly larger than 0 degrees. There's no fixed lower limit other than 0 itself, which isn't considered an angle. In practice, very small acute angles (like 1° or 0.5°) appear almost like straight lines but are still technically acute angles.
47. How do acute angles affect the steepness of a slope?
The acute angle a slope makes with the horizontal directly relates to its steepness. A larger acute angle results in a steeper slope, while a smaller acute angle creates a gentler slope. This concept is crucial in geography, engineering, and architecture for understanding and designing inclines and gradients.
48. Can an acute angle be exactly 45 degrees?
Yes, 45 degrees is an acute angle. It's exactly half of a right angle (90 degrees) and is a common angle in geometry and real-life applications. It's often used in isosceles right triangles and in creating perfect diagonal lines.
49. How do acute angles relate to trigonometric functions?
Acute angles are fundamental in trigonometry. The sine, cosine, and tangent functions are defined for acute angles in right triangles. These functions help solve problems involving triangles and are essential in fields like physics, engineering, and navigation.
50. Can an acute angle be expressed in radians?
Yes, like all angles, acute angles can be expressed in radians. Since acute angles are less than 90 degrees, they will always be less than π/2 radians (approximately 1.57 radians). For example, 45 degrees is equal to π/4 radians.
51. What role do acute angles play in regular polygons?
In regular polygons with more than four sides, all interior angles are acute. For example, a regular pentagon has five interior angles, each measuring 108°, which are all acute. As the number of sides in a regular polygon increases, its interior angles approach, but never reach, 180°.
52. How do acute angles relate to the concept of rotation in geometry?
Rotation in geometry is often described by an angle. An acute angle of rotation results in a partial turn that's less than a quarter of a full revolution. Understanding acute angles in rotation is crucial in fields like computer graphics, robotics, and mechanical engineering for precise control of movement.
53. What role do acute angles play in crystallography?
In crystallography, the study of crystal structures, acute angles are crucial. Many crystals form structures with specific acute angles between their faces or atomic planes. These angles are characteristic of the crystal's composition and structure. X-ray diffraction techniques use these acute angles to determine the atomic and molecular structure of crystals.
54. How are acute angles used in sundial design?
Sundials use the concept of acute angles to tell time. The gnomon (the part that casts the shadow) is typically set at an acute angle equal to the latitude of the location. The acute angles formed between the gnomon's shadow and the hour lines on the dial face change throughout the day, allowing time to be read based on these angles.
55. Can acute angles help in understanding the structure of DNA?
Yes, acute angles are important in understanding DNA structure. The famous double helix of DNA involves acute angles in its geometry. The angle between successive base pairs (about 36°) and the acute angle of the sugar-phosphate backbone contribute to the overall helical structure. These angles are crucial for DNA's function and replication process.

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