a t in g an g l es

illustr
of el ev a tio n a n d
les o f d e pr es sio n
ang
Modules 3-4
Quarter 4
angle of elevation
is the angle between the horizontal line from the
observer and the line of sight of an object that is
above the horizontal line.
is always measured from the ground up. It is an
upward angle from a horizontal line. It is always inside
the triangle.
Think of the angle of elevation in relation to the
movement of your eyes. You are looking straight
ahead and you must raise (elevate) your eyes to see
the top of a tree.
example 1
A nursery plants a new tree and attaches a guywire
to help support the tree while its roots take hold. An
eight foot wire is attached to the tree and to a
stake in the ground. From the stake in the ground
the angle of elevation of the connection with the
tree is 42º. Find to the nearest tenth of a foot, the
height of the connection point on the tree.
 example 2
You are on a trip through a mountain. At a
distance x, you can see mountains, and quick
measurement tells you that the angle between the
mountain top and the ground is 13º. You know
that the highest point (the centre) of the mountain
is 2500m high. How far away are you from the
centre of the mountain to the nearest meter?
 example 3
A 14 foot ladder is used to scale wall. The
foot of the ladder is 13 ft away from the
base of the wall. At what angle of
elevation must the ladder be situated in
order to reach the top of the wall? (Find
angle to the nearest degree)
activity
1. A ladder leans against the side
of a building with its foot 12 ft
from the building. How long is
the ladder if it makes an angle
of 70º with the ground?
 activity
2. When the sun is 200 m above
the horizon, what is the angle of
elevation formed when the
shadow of the building is 50 m
long?
 activity
3. A straight road to the top of a
hill is 2500 feet long and makes
an angle of 12º with the
horizontal. Find the height of the
hill.
 activity
4. A kite flying at a height of
65m is attached to a string
inclined at 31° to the
horizontal. What is the length
of string ?
angle of depression
is the angle between the horizontal line from the
observer and the line of sight of an object that is
below the horizontal line.
It is a downward angle from a horizontal line.
It is always outside the triangle.
Think of the angle of depression in relation to the
movement of your eyes. You are looking standing at
the top of the lighthouse and you are looking straight
ahead and you must lower (depress) your eyes to
see the boat in the water.
example 1
From the top of a lighthouse,
40 ft above the sea, the angle
of depression of a boat is 38º.
How far is the boat from the
lighthouse?
example 2

From the top of a vertical cliff 40

m high, the angle of depression of
an object that is level with the base
of the cliff is 34º. How far is the
object from the base of the cliff?
example 3

A 100 ft. building casts a

300 ft. shadow from the
sun. What is the angle of
depression?
 activity
1. From an airplane at an altitude of
1200m, the angle of depression to
a building on the ground measures
28°. Find the distance from the
plane to the building.
 activity
2. From the top of the tower 30 m
high a man is observing the base of a
tree at an angle of depression
measuring 30 degree. Find the
distance between the tree and the
tower.
 activity
3. To illuminate the entrance of an
apartment building, a night light is
mounted on a 6.6 m pole. If the base
of the pole is 24 m from the entrance,
find the angle of depression from the
light.