Activity 8

OBJECTIVE MATERIAL REQUIRED

To find the values of sine and cosine Cardboard, white chart paper, ruler,
functions in second, third and fourth coloured pens, adhesive, steel
quadrants using their given values in wires and needle.
first quadrant.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
1. Take a cardboard of convenient size and paste a white chart paper on it.
2. Draw a unit circle with centre O on chart paper.
3. Through the centre of the circle, draw two perpendicular lines X′OX and
YOY′ representing x-axis and y-axis, respectively, as shown in Fig.8.1.
 4. Mark the points as A, B, C and D, where the circle cuts the x-axis and y-axis,
respectively, as shown in Fig. 8.1.

π π π
5. Through O, draw angles P1OX, P2OX, and P3OX of measures , and ,
6 4 3
respectively.
6. Take a needle of unit length. Fix one end of it at the centre of the circle and
the other end to move freely along the circle.

DEMONSTRATION

 3 1
1. The coordinates of the point P1 are  ,  because its x-coordinate is
 2 2

π π
cos and y-coordinate is sin . The coordinates of the points P2 and P3
6 6
 1 1  1 3
are  ,  and  ,  , respectively.
 2 2 2 2 

2. To find the value of sine or

cosine of some angle in the
2π
second quadrant (say) ,
3
rotate the needle in anti
clockwise direction
making an angle P4OX of
2π
measure = 120º with
3
the positive direction of
x-axis.
3. Look at the position
OP4 of the needle in

Mathematics 31
 2π π
Fig.8.2. Since = π – , OP4 is the mirror image of OP3 with respect to
3 3
 1 3
y-axis. Therefore, the coordinate of P 4 are  – ,  . Thus
 2 2 

2π 3 2π 1
sin = and cos = – .
3 2 3 2

π 4π −2π
4. To find the value of sine or cosine of some angle say, π + = , i.e.,
3 3 3
(say) in the third quadrant, rotate the needle in anti clockwise direction
4π
making as an angle of with the positive direction of x-axis.
3
5. Look at the new position OP5 of the needle, which is shown in Fig. 8.3.
Point P 5 is the mirror
image of the point P 4
(since ∠ P 4 OX′ =
P5OX′) with respect to
x-axis. Therefore, co-
ordinates of P 5 are

 1 − 3
 − ,  and hence
 2 2 

32 Laboratory Manual
  2π   4π  3  2π   4π  1
sin  –  = sin   = – and cos  −  = cos   = – .
 3   3  2  3   3  2

6. To find the value of sine or cosine of some angle in the fourth quadrant, say
7π
, rotate the needle in anti clockwise direction making an angle of
4
7π
with the positive direction of x-axis represented by OP6, as shown in
4
7π π
Fig. 8.4. Angle in anti clockwise direction = Angle − in the clockwise
4 4
direction.

From Fig. 8.4, P6 is the mirror image of P2 with respect to x-axis. Therefore,
 1 1 
coordinates of P6 are  ,− .
 2 2

Mathematics 33
  7π   π 1
Thus sin   = sin  –  = –
 4   4 2

 7π   π 1
and cos   = cos  –  =
 4   4 2
8. To find the value of sine or cosine of some angle, which is greater than one
13π
revolution, say , rotate the needle in anti clockwise direction since
6
13π π
= 2π + , the needle will reach at the position OP 1. Therefore,
6 6

 13 π   π 1  13π   π 3
sin   = sin   = and cos   = cos   = .
 6   6 2  6   6 2
OBSERVATION
1. Angle made by the needle in one complete revolution is _________.
π  π
2. cos = _________ = cos  − 
6  6
π
sin = _________ = sin (2π + ______).
6
3. sine function is non-negative in _______ and _______ quadrants.
4. cosine function is non-negative in ______ and _____ quadrants.
APPLICATION
1. The activity can be used to get the values for tan, cot, sec, and cosec functions
also.
2. From this activity students may learn that
sin (– θ) = – sin θ and cos (– θ) = – cos θ
This activity can be applied to other trigonometric functions also.

34 Laboratory Manual