TOPIC 1

HEIGHTS AND DISTANCES

Learning Objectives
 Students will be learning to analyse the concept of angle of elevation
and depression.
 Students will be learning to demonstrate knowledge of some
applications of trigonometry.
Learning Outcomes
 Students will be able to apply formulas to calculate the heights or distances
of different structures.
 Students will be able to apply trigonometry to solve problems including
those involving angles of elevation and depression.

Real Life Application

Don't you find underwater life fascinating? Some people have the opportunity
to observe aquatic life up close. Just like every other field, trigonometry plays
a very important role in marine biology as it is used to study organisms that
live in and around water. To determine how far away a specific plant or
animal is, a marine biologist uses the water level to calculate the depression
or elevation angle.
Mathematical models are used by marine biologists to measure and analyse
the behaviour of marine species. The size of distant wild creatures can also be
estimated using this method.

Additionally, at various water depths, different forms of phytoplankton or

algae can be found. Thus, the sunlight also reaches these algae at various
angles. The pace or efficiency of their photosynthesis may be affected by
the sunlight's length and depth. The position of the algae, its distance from
the ocean's surface, and the angle of the sun's rays can all be connected to
determine the answer.
Let us study some applications of trigonometry in detail.

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Trigonometry is used for finding the heights and distances of various objects.
Some terms that are used to find the height and distances are:
Line of Sight
It is the line drawn from the eye of an observer to the point in the object
viewed by the observer.
Angle of Elevation
The angle of elevation of the point viewed, is the angle formed by the line of
sight with the horizontal, when the point being viewed is above the horizontal
level.
This angle is formed when the viewer raise his head to look at the object.
For example: Look at the figure given:
ht C (object)
sig
of
e

Angle of elevation
Lin

q
A B
Horizontal level
E D

The line AC drawn from the eye (A) of the observer to the top of the object
is called the line of sight. The observer is looking at the top of the object. The
angle BAC, so formed, by the line of sight with the horizontal, is called the
angle of elevation of the top of the object from the eye of the observer.
Important
 A plane level parallel to Earth’s surface is horizontal plane level and line
parallel to horizontal plane is called a horizontal line.
 If an observer moves towards the object, angle of elevation increases and if
moves away then angle of elevation decreases.
 If height of the object is doubled and distance between observer and foot
(or base) of the object is also doubled, then angle of elevation remains same.
Angle of Depression
The angle of depression of a point on the object being viewed is the angle
formed by the line of sight with the horizontal level, when the point being
viewed is below the horizontal level.
It is formed when the viewer lower his head to look at the object.
O Horizontal line
A
θ Angle of depression
Lin
e
of
sig
ht

P(object)

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Let P be the position of the object being viewed, lying below the horizontal level
OA and O be the observer’s eye.
Then, OP is the line of sight and ÐAOP is the angle of depression.
Important
 Angle of elevation of a point P as seen from a point O is always equal to
the angle of depression of point O as seen from point P.
Angle of
depression P

ht
s ig
of
e
Lin
Angle of
elevation
O Horizontal A
line

 Angle of elevation and angle of depression are always acute angles.

Important Points for Solving Word Problems
(1) While solving problems, observer is represented by a point if his height is
not given.
(2) The angle of elevation and angle of depression are always acute angles.
(3) In the problems, if the angle of elevation of an object is given, then we
conclude that the object is at higher altitude than observer.
(4) In the problems, if the angle of depression of an object is given, then we

...
conclude that the observer is at higher altitude than object.
(5) In solving problems, we shall make use of trigonometric ratios of standard
angles only namely 30°, 45° and 60°.

4 Mathematics Class X
 OBJECTIVE Type Questions
[1 mark ]

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Several cars were parked near a tall tower. Pragya told her friend
that she can find out the height of the tower without actually
measuring it. She reasoned that she can do it by using her knowledge
of trigonometry.

The angle of depression of a car parked on the road from the top of
a 150 m high tower is 30°. The distance of the car from the tower
(in metres) is:
(a) 50 3 (b) 150 3
(c) 150 2 (d)75

Ans. (b) 150 3

Explanation: Here, AB is a tower of height 150 m.

A
30°

150 m

30°
C B

In DABC,
AB
tan 30° =
BC
1 150

Þ =
3 BC

Þ BC = 150 3 m
Hence, the distance of the car from the tower is 150 3 m.
2. In the DABC shown below, ÐX : ÐY = 1 : 2.

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 C

Y
B A

What is tan X ?
1
(a) (b)1
3
3
(c) (d) 3
2 [CBSE Question Bank 2022]
1
Ans. (a)
3

Explanation: ÐB= 90°

So, ÐX + ÐY + ÐB= 180° (Angle sum property of triangle)
\ ÐX + ÐY = 90°
Let the common measure of angles be Z.
\ 1Z + 2Z = 90° [ratio ∠X : ∠Y = 1 : 2]
\ 3Z = 90°
Z = 30°
\ X = 1Z = 30°
and Y = 2Z = 60°
\ tan X = tan 30°
1
tan X =
3

Fill in the Blanks

3. If the length of the shadow of a building is decreasing then the angle
of elevation is ................... .
Ans. i ncreasing
Explanation: See the following figure:
A

30° 60°
D C B

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 As the shadow reaches from point D to C towards the direction of the
building, the angle of elevation increases from 30° to 60°.

True/False
4. The length of the shadow of a tree 20 m long is 20 3 m, when the sun's
angle of elevation is 30°.

Ans. True.
Explanation: Let PQ = x m be the length of the shadow of the tree and
QR = 20m be the height of the tree.
R

20 m

30°
P x Q

RQ
In DPQR, tan30°=
PQ

1 20
=
PQ
3

Assertion Reason
Direction for questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a
statement of Reason (R). Choose the correct option as:
(a) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct
explanation of assertion (A).
(b) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true but reason (R) is not the
correct explanation of assertion (A).
(c) Assertion (A) is true but reason (R) is false.
(d) Assertion (A) is false but reason (R) is true.
5. Assertion (A): In the figure, if BC = 20 m, then height AB is 11.56 m.

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 A

30°
B C

Reason (R): tan θ = AB = perpendicular

BC base
Ans. (a) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct
explanation of assertion (A).
Explanation:
AB AB
tan 30° = =
BC 20
1 20
AB = × 20 =
11.56 m =
3 1.73

Hence, both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct
explanation of assertion.

CASE BASED Questions (CBQs)

[ 4 & 5 marks ]
Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow:
6. An observer on the top of a 30 m tall light house (including height of the
observer) observes a ship at an angle of depression 30° coming towards
the base of the lighthouse along a straight line joining the ship and the
base of the lighthouse. The angle of depression of the ship changes to
45° after 10 seconds.

(A)The distance of the ship from the base of the lighthouse when
angle of depression is 30°, is:

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 (a) 30 3 m (b) 10 3 m
10
(c) 30 m (d) 3m
3

(B)The distance between the two positions of ship after 10 seconds is:
(a) 30 m (b) 30( 3 – 1) m
(c) 10 ( 3 +1) m (d) 30 ( 3 +1) m
(C)The speed of the ship is:
(a) 10 ms–1 (b) 30( 3 + 1)ms–1
(c) 3( 3 – 1) ms–1 (d) 30( 3 – 1)ms–1
Ans. (A) (a) 30 3 m
Explanation: As the angle of depression of the ship from the base of
the lighthouse = 30°, the angle of elevation from D to the top A of the
lighthouse AB is also 30°.
 We have to find the distance of the ship from the base of the
lighthouse i.e., BD.
As DABD is a right triangle, right angled at B,
AB
\ tan 30° =
BD
1
Þ = 30
3 BD

Þ BD = 30 3 m
(B) (b) 30( 3 – 1) m Explanation: The distance between the
ships after 10 seconds
= CD = BD – BC = 30 3 – 30
= 30( 3 – 1) m
–1
(C) (c) 3( 3 – 1) ms
Explanation: Speed of the ship
Distance travelled by the ship in 10s
=
10

CD

= = 30( 3 − 1)
=3( 3 – 1)ms–1
10 10

VERY SHORT ANSWER Type Questions (VSA)

[ 1 mark ]

7. Two friends Ajay and Pranjay were discussing how it is possible

to find out the heights of the tall towers or buildings by using their

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 knowledge of trigonometry.

The tops of two towers of heights x and y, standing on level ground,
subtend angles of 30° and 60° respectively at the centre of the line
joining their feet, then find x: y. [Delhi Gov. QB 2022, CBSE 2015]
Ans. L et EA and DB be the two towers of heights x and y respectively and C
be the point of observation.
D
E

y
x

30° 60°
A d C d B

Since, point C lies at centre of the line joining the base of two towers.
\ AC = CB = d (say)
In DACE,
AE
tan 30° =
AC
1 x

Þ =
3 d
d

Þ x = ...(i)
3

In DDCB,
BD
tan 60° =
BC
y

⇒ 3 =
d

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Þ 3d = y...(ii)
d
3
Now, x: y =
3d

= 1
 [Using (i) and (ii)]
3

1
Thus, x: y =
3

SHORT ANSWER Type-I Questions (SA-I)

[ 2 marks ]

8. The ratio of the length of a vertical rod and the length of its shadow is
1 : 3 . Find the angle of elevation of the sun at that moment.
[CBSE 2020]
Ans. L et AB be the rod and AX be its shadow when the angle of elevation of
the sun is q.

Let h be the length of the rod.
B

Rod h

θ
X Shadow A

Then, its shadow is 3h .

Now, in DABX
AB h
tan θ = =
AX 3h
1
Þ tan θ = 3

Þ tan θ = tan 30°

Þ θ = 30º.
Hence, the angle of elevation of the sun is 30º.

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 SHORT ANSWER Type-II Questions (SA-II)
[ 3 marks ]

9. The shadow of a tower standing on a level plane is found to be 50 m

longer when the Sun’s elevation is 30º than when it is 60º. Find the
height of the tower.
[CBSE 2012, 11]
Ans. Let DB be the tower with height h m, BC and BA be its shadows when
angle of elevation of sun is 60° and 30°, respectively.
D Sun

hm

30º 60º
A C x B
50m

Let x be the length of the shadow when angle of elevation is 60º.

i.e., BC = x m
Given that AC = 50 m
and ∠DCB = 60º and ∠DAB = 30º
In ∆DCB,
tan 60º = DB = h
BC x
h h
Þ x = = ...(i)
tan 60º 3
[tan 60º = 3]

In ∆ABD,
tan 30º = BD = h
AB 50 + x
1 h
Þ =
3 50 + x

Þ 3h = 50 + x
h
Þ 3 h = 50 +  [Using eqn (i)]
3
 1 
Þ  3− h = 50
 3
3 − 1
Þ  h = 50
 3 

Þ h = 50 3
2
Þ h = 25 3 m

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 Hence, the height of the tower is 25 3 m

LONG ANSWER Type Questions (LA)

[ 4 & 5 marks ]

10. A 1.2 m tall girl spots a balloon moving with the wind in a horizontal
line at a height 88.2 m from the ground. The angle of elevation of the
balloon from the eyes of the girl at any instant is 60°. After sometime,
the angle of elevation reduces to 30°. Find the distance travelled by the
balloon during the interval.

88.2 m
º
60
30º

1.2 m

[CBSE SQP 2020]

Ans.

P.T.O

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 E C

D
A B

From the figure, the angle of elevation for the first position of the
balloon ÐEAD = 60° and for second position ÐBAC = 30°. The
vertical distance
ED = CB = 88.2 – 1.2
= 87 m.
Let AD = x m and AB = y m.
hen in right Δ ADE,
T
DE
tan 60° =
AD
3 = 87
x
87
x = ...(i)
3

In right DABC,
BC
tan 30° =
AB
1 87
=
3 y

y = 87 3 ...(ii)
Subtracting (i) and (ii)
87
y – x = 87 3−
3

174 3
y – x =
3. 3
y – x = 58 3 m
ence, the distance travelled by the balloon is equal to BD
H
y – x = 58 3 m.
[CBSE Marking Scheme SQP 2020]

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 TOPPER’S CORNER

SHORT ANSWER Type-I Questions (SA-I)

[2 marks ]

11. The angle of elevation of an aeroplane from a point A on the

ground is 60°. After a flight of 30 seconds, the angle of elevation
becomes 30°. If the aeroplane is flying at a constant height of
3000 3 m, find the speed of the aeroplane.

Ans.

[CBSE Topper
2014]

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16 Mathematics Class X
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