HEIGHT & DISTANCE

INTRODUCTION
• Basically this chapter deals with the applications of
Trigonometry in real life.
• In this chapter we will see how trigonometry is used for
finding the heights and distance of various objects
without actually measuring them.
• In the height and distance the following concepts are
included:
 Measuring the height of towers or big mountains
 Determining the distance of the shore from the sea
 Finding the distance between two celestial bodies
C

Line of sight

Angle of elevation
A
Horizontal line
P Q
Horizontal line
Angle of Depression

Lin
e
of
sig
ht
 DEFINITIONS
• The line of sight is the line drawn from the eye
of an observer to the point in the object
viewed by the observer.
• 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. i.e.
object
li ne
ht
Si g

You Angle of elevation

Horizontal line
• The angle of depression of a point on the
object being viewed is the angle formed by
the line of sight with the horizontal when the
point is below the horizontal level.
You Horizontal line
Angle of depression

Line of sight

Object
TRIGONOMETRIC
RATIOS
Sin θ= p/h Cosec θ = h/p

Cos θ = b/h Sec θ = h/b

Tan θ = p/b Cot θ = b/p

 Also you should know the values of these
trigonometric ratios of some common angles as given
in the following table:

00 300 450 600 900

Sin 0 1/2 1/√2 √3/2 1

Cos 1 √3/2 1/√2 1/2 0

Tan 0 1/√3 1 √3 Not Defined

 Questions

Q.N.1 An observer observes the angle of elevation of the top

of a tree from a point to be 300 . On walking 300 m towards
the tree angle of elevation changes to 450. Find the height
of the tree.
A
Sol:-

Let AB be the height of the tree, C

and D be the two points of
observation and ∠ADB & ∠ACB be
the angle of elevations from the
point D and C respectively. The 300 450
distance between the points D & C D 300 m C
B
is 300 m.
In a right angled ACB,
∠ACB =450 A

AB =?
Now ,
Tan 450 = AB/CB
⇒ 1 = AB/CB
300 450
⇒ CB = AB …….. (1)
D 300 m C B
Again,
in right angled ADB,
DB = DC + CB = 300 m + CB
AB =?
Now,
Tan 300 =

⇒ =
⇒ =

⇒ = (From eqn 1)

⇒ √3 AB = 300 + AB
⇒ (√3-1) AB =300
⇒ AB =
⇒AB = 409.81
Hence the height of the tree is 409.81 m
 Q.N. 2 An aeroplane is flying h meters above the ground. At a particular
instant, the angle of elevation of the plane from the eyes of a boy sitting on
the ground is 60°. After some time, the angle of elevation changed to 30°.
Find the distance covered by the plane during that time assuming it
travelled in a straight line.
Sol:- let us suppose the
aeroplane travelled along the C B
line BC. Boy is sitting on the
point E.
In EDC, h h
Tan 600 =

300
⇒ √3 = E
600 D A
x y

⇒x =
In EAB,

Tan 300 = ⇒
⇒ x+y =h ……. (2)
And the distance travelled by the plane is
DA = y
= h - x
= h -
=
So, if the aeroplane is flying h meters above the ground, it
would travel for (2/√3) h meters as the angle of elevation
changes from 60° to 30 °.
 Q.N.3 An observer 1.5 m tall is 28.5 m away from a tower. The angle of elevation of the top of the tower from her eyes is 45°. What is the
height of the tower?

C
Sol:-
Here ED is the height of the observer i.e. ED = AB = 1.5
m. And the observer is standing 28.5 m away from the
tower i.e. EA= DB = 28.5 m . AC is the height of the
tower. And ∠CDB is the angle of the elevation.

So we can observe from the figure that 45°

AC = AB+ BC D B
=1.5 m + BC ………..(1) 1.5 m
now we can take E A
Tan 45° = 28.5 m

1 =

BC = 28.5 × 1 = 28.5 m
so the total height of the tower is AC = AB+ BC
= 1.5 + 28.5
= 30 m
HEIGHT &
DISTANCE
 Q.N. 4 As observed from the top of a light house, 100 m above sea level, the
angle of depression of a ship, sailing directly towards it, change from 30° to
45°. Determine the distance travelled by the ship during the period of
observation.
Sol: let A and B be the two positions of the ship.
30° O
Let d be the distance travelled by the ship during
the period of the observation i.e. AB = d metres
45°
Let the observer be at O, the top of the light
house PO. 100m
It is given that PO = 100 m and the angles of
depression from O of A and B are 30° and 45°
respectively.
30° 45°

∴ ∠OAP = 30° and ∠OBP = 45° A d B P

In OPB , we have
tan 45° =

⇒1 =
∴ BP = 100 m
In OPA, We have
tan 30° =

⇒ =

⇒ d + BP =100
⇒ d+100= 100
⇒ d = 100 - 100
⇒ d = 100( -1)
⇒ d =73.2 m
 Q.N. 5 The angle of elevation of a jet plane from a point A on
the ground is 60°. After a flight of 30 seconds, the angle of
elevation changes to 30°. If the jet plane is flying at a constant
height of 3600 m, find the speed of the jet plane.
Sol : let P and Q be the two positions of the plane and let A be Q
the point of observation. It is given that angles of elevation of
P
the plane in two positions P and Q from a point A are 60°
and 30° respectively.
∠PAB = 60° & ∠QAC = 30° 3600 m
It is also given that PB = QC=3600 m 60°
In ABP, We have
30°
tan 60° = A B C
⇒ =
⇒ =
⇒ AB = 3600 m
In ACQ, We have ⇒ AC = 3600 × 3 = 10800 m
PQ= BC = AC-AB =10800-3600= 7200m
tan 30° = Thus, the plane travels 7200 m in 30 seconds.

Hence speed of plane = = 240 m/ sec

Q.N.6 From a point on a bridge across a river, the angles of
depression of the banks on opposite sides of the river are 30°
and 45°, respectively. If the bridge is at a height of 3 m from the
banks, find the width of the river.
Sol: Here A and B represents points on the bank on
opposite sides of river, so that AB is the width of the
river. P is the point on the bridge at a height of 3 m , i.e.
DP = 3 m. we need to find the length of the river i.e.
length of AB.
Now
AB = AD + DB P
In the APD,
30° 45°
We know ∠PAD = 30° ( alternate angle)

3m
Tan 30° = 30° 45°
A D B
⇒ =

⇒ AD = 3 m
 P
In PBD ,
∠PBD = 45°

3m
So tan 45° =
45°
⇒ 1 = D B
∴ PD = BD = 3 m
∴ AB = BD + AD = 3+ 3 =3( 1+ ) m
Hence the width of river is 3( 1+ ) m.
 Q.N.6 A tower stands at the centre of a circular park . A and B are the two
points on the boundary of the park such that AB (=a) subtends an angle of
60° at the foot of the tower & the angle of elevation of the top of the tower
from A or B is 30°. Find the height of the tower. P
Sol:- let PO be the tower.
From the AOB,
AB = a & ∠ AOB = 60°

Here we know that OA & OB are the radius of the

circle . so OA must be equal to OB, hence the opposite O 30°
angles should be equal 60° A
i.e. ∠OBA = ∠OAB a
So we get ∠OAB = ∠ OBA= ∠ AOB = 60°
So this is an equilateral triangle. B
From the POA,

Tan 30° =
∴ PO =
⇒ =
 Q.N.7 A bird is sitting on the top of vertical pole 20 m high and its elevation
from a point O on the ground is 45°. It flies off horizontally away from the
point O in a straight line and sits on the another pole. After one second the
elevation of the bird from point O is reduced to 30°. Then find the speed of
the bird.
Sol:-
Let AC and BD be the two poles. A B
And height of the pole is 20 m. Bird flies from the pole AC
to BD. We need to find the speed of the bird .
In OCA ,

20 m
Tan 45° =

⇒1 =
45° 30°
⇒OC = 20 m O C D
In OBD

Tan 30° = ⇒ = ⇒ =
⇒ OD = 20 m
Now
the distance between the two pole is
⇒ OD – OC = 20 - 20
= 20 ( - 1) m
Hence the speed of the bird=

= m/s
 Q.N.8 PQR is a triangular park with PQ = PR = 200m. A T.V.
tower stands at the midpoint of QR. If the angles of elevation
of the top of tower at P,Q & R are 45°, 30° & 30° respectively,
then find the height of the tower. A
Sol:-
let AB be the pole on the mid point of the side QR
of a triangular park with height of the pole h. 30° Q
In PAB,

=
tan 45° = 30° B

200 m
=
R
⇒ 1= ⇒ AB = PB 45°
200
⇒ AB = PB = h m
In ABQ,

tan 30° = P

⇒ = ⇒ BQ =
In PBQ,
By pythagoras theorem
We know Q
⇒ h 2 = p 2 + b2 B
⇒ PQ2 = PB2 + BQ2

200
m
⇒ (200)2 = h2 + (h )2 h

⇒ (200)2 = h2 + 3h2

⇒ (200)2 = 4h2

⇒ (200)2 = (2h)2 P
⇒ 200 = 2h
∴ h = 100 m