TRIGONOMETRY

Angle of Elevation
 Objectives
▣ Identify angle of elevation
▣ State definitions for angle elevation
▣ State at least three real life scenarios where
angle of elevation is found
▣ Use the appropriate trigonometric ratio to find
unknown heights or distances in physical
world involving angles of elevation
▣ Solve for angle of elevation in physical world
problems.
 Scenario
▣ Kevin stands on the ground about 8 metres
from the base of a coconut tree. He looks
horizontally just to see Paul a metre up the tree
from the ground and then tilt his head
upwards to see the size coconuts in the tree that
Paul was going after.
▣ Draw a diagram depicting Kevin, Paul and
the coconuts and tree.
Use broken lines to indicate his line of vision
 i g ht
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Angle of
elevation

Horizontal plane

8m
 Line of sight and Horizontal
level
▣ Line of sight
line drawn from the eye of the observer to the point in
the object viewed by the observer

Horizontal level (eye level)

▣ line of sight when the person is looking at a point in
an object
 Angle of elevation
▣ is the angle between
the horizontal level
and the line of sight
above the horizontal
level
▣ Or
▣ the angle form
between the line of
sight of a person
looking upwards and
the horizontal plane.
 Clinometer
DEFINITION USING A CLINOMETER

▣ A clinometer is a tool that

is used to measure the
angle of elevation, or
angle from the ground, in
a right - angled triangle.
You can use
a clinometer to measure
the height of tall things
that you can't possibly
reach to the top of, flag
poles, buildings, trees.
Measuring angle of elevation
using a clinometer
Angles of elevation
Angle of elevation and angle of
depression
 Activity
▣ From a point on the ground 12 ft from the base
of a flagpole, the angle of elevation of the top of
the pole measures 53°. How tall is the flagpole?

tan 53° = f/12

Tan 53 x12 = f 53º
1.327 x12
15.9 ft 12 ft
 Activity (finding height)
▣ From a lookout point ,the angle of elevation of
a tower is 26°. If the tower is 30m away from
the point on the same horizontal level, what is
the height of the tower?

Tan 26 = t/30
t Tan 26 x 30 = t
0.4877 x 30
14.6 m = t
26º

30 m
 Angle of elevation
▣ A 300 m cable is attached to the top of an
antenna. The angle of elevation to the top of the
antenna is 15°. How high is the antenna?

6
Solution
▣  
 ACTIVITY
▣ A man 1.6 m tall observes an angle of elevation
to the top of a vertical tower 443m high. If he is
standing 550 m away from the base of the
tower, what is the angle of elevation?
Solution
▣ A man 1.6 m tall
observes an angle of
elevation to the top of
a vertical tower 443m
high. If he is standing
550 m away from the
base of the tower,
what is the angle of
elevation?
 solution
▣  
 Activity
▣ A girl 1.2 m tall is 25m
away from a tower
18
18m high. What is the
angle of elevation of 1.2
the tower from her 25m
eyes?

18-1.2 = 16.8
Tan Ɵ= 16.8/25
0.672
Tan-1 0.672 = 33.9º
 Example
▣ A surveyor stands 100m from the base of a
tower on which an aerial stands. He measures
the angles of elevation to the top and bottom of
the aerial as 55° and 51° Find the height of the
aerial.
▣ Tan 55º = TB /100
Tan55 x 100 =
1.428 x100
142.8m= TB

Tan 51º = AB /100

Tan 51 x 100 = AB
1.235 x100 = AB
123.5 m = AB
TA = TB – AB
142.8 – 123.5 = 19.3 m
Solution
 Activity 5
▣ A woman 20m away from a tower observes the
angle of elevation to the top and bottom of a
flag-staff standing on the tower as 73° and 70°
respectively. Calculate the height of the
flag-staff.
 Activity
▣ A surveyor stands
100m from the base of
a tower on which an
aerial stands. He
measures the angles of
elevation to the top
and bottom of the
aerial as 56° and 49°
Find the height of the
aerial.
Video on elevation