Chapter 11 Angles of Elevation and Depression

Prepare by Miss Chai Choy Fah SMK Lake, Bau

Angle of elevation
Angle between horizontal line through point of observation and the line of sight of an object that lies above horizontal line.

Look at the bird, my eye is moving upward, so, line of sight is above horizontal line. is at below line of sight

Angle of elevation

Angle of depression
Angle between horizontal line through point of observation and the line of sight of an object that lies below horizontal line.
is at above line of sight.
Angle of depression Im looking at the boy, my eye is moving downward, so, line of sight is below horizontal line.

EXAMPLES:

State the angle of elevation from point Q to point P.

Determine the line of sight.
Determine the horizontal line. P The is below the line of sight. Determine the angle of elevation.

Angle of elevation:

RQP

State the angle of depression from point P to point Q.

The is above Determine the line of the line of sight. sight. Determine the horizontal line. P

Angle of depression: R

SPQ

Determine the angle of depression.

EXERCISE:

Question 1:
Steven was looking at a bird from far. Based on the diagram, find the angle of depression from the bird to Steven.
A Highlight the important information given first. F

1177.93 m

B
1.5 m 500 m C D

Step 1: Draw the line of sight. Step 2: Draw the horizontal line. The horizontal line is above the line of sight. Step 3: Get the triangle. The the line of sight. is above

Step 4: Get the angle of depression.

A F

Angle of depression:

FAE

1177.93 m E

B
1.5 m 500 m C D

Calculation: By using trigonometry:

1177.93m tan FAE 500m tan FAE 2.35586
FAE tan 1 2.35586 FAE 67o

Angle of depression: FAE 67o

Question 2:
Based on the diagram given, calculate the height of the flagpole.
The boy is looking to the flagpole, so his head is moving upward. The angle that related will be

angle of elevation. 37o

3.0 m

10 m

Step 1: Determine the line of sight. Step 2: Determine the horizontal line. The horizontal line is below the line of sight. Step 3: Complete the triangle. Step 4: Determine the angle of elevation. Step 5: Label the missing information. Angle of elevation = 37o

37o
10 m 3.0 m

Height of flagpole

10 m

Calculation: By using trigonometry:

y tan 37 10m y 0.75 10
o

y 0.75 10

y 7.5m
Height of the flagpole: 7.5m + 3m = 10.5 m