Lengkungan

Lengkungan is a term used in Malay and Indonesian to refer to a curved line or surface. It covers a range of shapes from simple circular arcs to more complex, free‑form curves, and is used in everyday language as well as in technical, mathematical, and design contexts.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from the Malay and Indonesian roots meaning to bend or curve. As a noun, lengkungan denotes the shape itself. Related terms include busur for an arc and lengkok for a bend or curve, used in various regional dialects and technical vocabularies.

In mathematics and geometry: Lengkungan describes any continuous curve in a plane or space. A portion of a lengkungan is called an arc, and the length of that portion is the arc length. Curvature, a measure of how sharply the lengkungan bends at a point, is a central concept in differential geometry and informs how a curve changes direction along its path.

In architecture and engineering: Lengkungan appears in arches, vaults, domes, and curved walls. Curved elements influence aesthetics, acoustics, and structural behavior by distributing loads and guiding light and airflow. In road and rail design, horizontal and vertical lengkungan affect visibility, speed, and safety.

In culture and design: Lengkungan shapes contribute to visual rhythm and motion in art, sculpture, and product design, and are fundamental in education for teaching geometry, surveying, and computer graphics.

See also: busur, lengkok, kurva.