I – OBJECTIVE

1. To be able to learn the versine method in measuring the

radius of a curve.
2. To be able to have the knowledge for the design and layout
curves for transportation routes including highways,
railroads, and pipelines, etc.

II – TOOLS / EQUIPMENTS / INSTRUMENTS

Fiber Glass tape

Marking chalk

III – PROCEDURE

1. Measure the chord distance between two points along

the circumference of the founded circle by using the
fiber glass tape.
2. From the measured chord distance of the circle, use
the fiber glass tape or push up tape to measure the
middle ordinate of the curve.
3. Compute the unknown radius of the circle by forming a
right triangle with the hypotenuse equal to R and with
𝐶
the legs 2 and R-MO.(refer to the sketches below)

IV – DRAWING / SKETCH / PHOTO

𝐶
2
MO = 1.14

R=?
𝐶 C = 4.20
2

R=?
Getting the radius of the circle from the center circle of the
basketball court

V. RESULTS / OBSERVATIONS
We observed that it is an easy fieldwork, because it does not
require a lot of time to do and we only use two instrument or
tools.
VI. DATA

Chord 4.20 m
Middle 1.14
ordinate

VII – FORMULA

By Pythagorean Theorem:
𝐶 2 𝐶2
𝑅 = ( ) + (𝑅 − 𝑀𝑂)2
2
𝑅2 = + 𝑅 2 − 2𝑅𝑀𝑂 + 𝑀𝑂2
2 4

4𝑅 2 = 𝐶 2 + 4𝑅 2 − 8𝑅𝑀𝑂 + 4𝑀𝑂2 Wherein:

R = radius
MO = middle ordinate
C = chord

8𝑅𝑀𝑂 = 𝐶 2 + 4𝑀𝑂2
𝑀𝑂

𝐶 2 + 4 𝑀𝑂2
𝑹=
8 𝑀𝑂

VIII – COMPUTATIONS

(4.20 𝑚)2 + 4 ( 1.14𝑚)2

𝑹=
8 (1.14𝑚)

𝑹 = 2.50𝑚

IX – CONCLUSION

We therefore conclude that the versine method is very

useful and helpful especially in finding the radius of a circle or
a curve. It can be used to easily find the radius of a curve or
circle with a given chord or middle ordinate.