Which term describes a line segment that runs from the center of a circle to a point on the circle?

The term that describes a line segment running from the center of a circle to a point on the circle is known as the radius. The radius is a crucial concept in circle geometry, as it not only helps define the size of the circle but also plays a significant role in formulas related to the area and circumference of the circle.

When you consider a circle, the radius is constant for any given circle, indicating the distance from the center to any point along its perimeter. This feature is essential for understanding other properties of the circle, such as calculating area (using the formula (A = \pi r^2)) and circumference (using the formula (C = 2\pi r)).

In contrast, the diameter refers to a line segment that passes through the center of the circle and connects two points on the circle's edge, making it twice the length of the radius. The circumference is the total distance around the circle, and a chord is any line segment whose endpoints lie on the circle but does not necessarily pass through the center. Understanding these distinctions is vital for grasping the geometric properties of circles.