# Why do circles have 360 degrees

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-circles-have-360-degrees/518>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [December 20, 1999, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-circles-have-360-degrees/518 "1999-12-20T15:01:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 9

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**Author:** ![JonF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@JonF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JonF)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2000, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-circles-have-360-degrees/518/161 "2000-02-13T21:19:00Z")

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Whoops, made an error in calculation. I said I would use 10,000 kilometers as the closest approach, then calculated with 10,000 meters. Using 10,000,000 meters would bring the force down to 37 N/kg The tidal force is a mere 4 times Earth’s gravity, just 570 times the tidal force of the Moon. Still plenty to rip almost everything off the surface of the Earth, squash people in caves like bugs (on the roof of the cave), and scour the Earth with a worldwide tsunami.

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jrf

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**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2000, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-circles-have-360-degrees/518/162 "2000-02-13T21:52:00Z")

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[[Duesberg’s views were unpopular and politically incorrect. His honesty wasn’t appreciated.]]

No, Duesberg’s views were simply _incorrect_. Copious evidence that HIV causes AIDS is available, should you be interested in investigating this further. This thread has gotten so far away from the original column topic (plus I’m tired of reading it), I’m going to close it and let you guys take it up anew in Great Debates if you choose to do so.  
Jill

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