How to join overlapping circles?

Question

I want to visually join two circles that are overlapping so that

becomes

Answer 1

Phi= ArcTan[ Sqrt[4 * R^2 - d^2] /d ]

HTH!

Edit

For two different radii:

Simplifying a little:

Phi= ArcTan[Sqrt[-d^4 -(R1^2 - R2^2)^2 + 2*d^2*(R1^2 + R2^2)]/(d^2 +R1^2 -R2^2)]

Edit

If you want the angle viewed from the other circle center, just exchange R1 by R2 in the last equation.

Here is a sample implementation in Mathematica:

f[center1_, d_, R1_, R2_] := Module[{Phi, Theta},

   Phi=  ArcTan[Sqrt[-d^4-(R1^2-R2^2)^2 + 2*d^2*(R1^2 + R2^2)]/(d^2 +R1^2 -R2^2)]

   Theta=ArcTan[Sqrt[-d^4-(R1^2-R2^2)^2 + 2*d^2*(R1^2 + R2^2)]/(d^2 -R1^2 +R2^2)]

   {Circle[{center1, 0}, R1, {2 Pi - Phi,   Phi}], 
    Circle[{d,       0}, R2, {Pi - Theta,  -Pi + Theta}]}

   ];
Graphics[f[0, 1.5, 1, 1]]

Graphics[f[0, 1.5, 1, 3/4]]  

And...

ImageMultiply[
 Binarize@FillingTransform[#], 
 ImageResize[Import@
 "http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn235/greeneyedgirlox/blondebabybunny.jpg", 
   ImageDimensions@#]] &@
 Rasterize@Graphics[f[0, 1.5, 1, 1], Background -> Black]

:)