{"id":384009,"date":"2026-03-10T04:10:28","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T18:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?p=971120"},"modified":"2026-03-10T04:10:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T18:10:28","slug":"what-is-pi-grades-5-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=384009","title":{"rendered":"What Is Pi? (Grades 5-8)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat Is Pi? (Grades 5-8)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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This article is for students grades 5-8.<\/em><\/p>\n

What is Pi?<\/h2>\n

Pi is a number. You might know it as 3.14 or the symbol \u03c0. But it\u2019s way more than that!<\/p>\n

What Makes Pi Special?<\/h2>\n

Pi is an irrational number<\/strong>. That means it goes on forever and it never repeats its sequence of numbers. Pi has been calculated to more than one trillion digits! But NASA scientists and engineers use far fewer digits in their calculations. Usually, the approximation of 3.14 is precise enough.<\/p>\n

Pi is the circumference<\/strong> of a circle divided by the circle\u2019s diameter<\/strong>. Pi is the same for any circle, no matter how big or small. It is a mathematical constant.<\/p>\n

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Words to Know<\/strong><\/h4>\n

irrational number: <\/strong>a number that cannot be expressed as a simple fraction<\/p>\n

circumference: <\/strong>the distance around a circle<\/p>\n

diameter<\/strong>: the distance of a straight line across the center of a circle<\/p>\n

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How Is Pi Used?<\/h2>\n

Pi is used in lots of ways. It\u2019s fundamental for calculating anything that involves circles, curves, or spheres. It\u2019s used in geometry, physics, engineering, and even computer science.<\/p>\n

How Does NASA Use Pi?<\/h2>\n

NASA missions depend on pi. Let\u2019s look at a few examples.<\/p>\n

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Astronauts returning home from the International Space Station use parachutes to slow their spacecraft down for a safe landing. But just how big do the parachutes need to be? NASA uses pi to calculate the circular area required to slow a spacecraft as it moves through the atmosphere.<\/p>\n

Planetary scientists use pi to learn about the materials inside a planet or asteroid. They use pi to determine the object\u2019s volume. Combined with the object\u2019s mass, they can determine the density of the object. Since we know the densities of planetary materials like rock, ice, and metal, scientists can make informed guesses about what the planet or asteroid might be made of.<\/p>\n

Did you know that spacecraft fuel tanks are usually sphere-shaped? Rocket scientists use pi to figure out how much fuel a spacecraft will need. They also use pi to compute how much fuel is available in spacecraft tanks and how quickly that fuel travels through their cylindrical fuel lines.<\/p>\n

To learn more ways pi helps NASA explore our home planet and beyond, check out 18 Ways NASA Uses Pi<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Career Corner<\/h2>\n

Are you interested in a career that uses pi? Many different occupations use this mathematical wonder. Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n