Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
The angle of elevation of an object as seen by an observer is the angle between the horizontal and the line from the object to the observer's eye
(the line of sight).
If the object is below the level of the observer, then the angle between the horizontal and the observer's line of sight is called the angle of
depression.
Example 21
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 34. How far is the object
from the base of the cliff?
Solution:
Let x m be the distance of the object from the base of the cliff.
The angle of depression is the angle between the horizontal and your line of sight (when looking down).
Let's pretend that the spot could look up at you. Would it be using the same angle to look up at you? It certainly would. This angle is however
called the angle of elevation. This angle is formed when looking up. Both angles are the same. That means x and y have the same
measure. Since the both green lines are parallel lines, then xand y form alternate interior angles, making x = y.
Therefore, angle of depression = angle of elevation.
The main ratio that we use to find the angle of depression is tangent.
The angle of depression may be found by using tan y = opposite/adjacent. The opposite side in this case is usually the height of the
observer or height in terms of location, for example, the height of a plane in the air. The adjacent is usually the horizontal distance between
the object and observer.
Examples
Example 1
Using the kitchen example, let's pretend that you are about 5 ft tall and, as we said earlier, you are standing 3 ft away from the spot. What is
the angle of depression? Remember tan y = opposite (your height) divided by adjacent (the distance between you and the spot).
Bearings
A bearing is an angle, measured clockwise from the north direction. Below, the bearing of B from A is 025 degrees (note 3
figures are always given). The bearing of A from B is 205 degrees.
Example
A, B and C are three ships. The bearing of A from B is 045. The bearing of C from A is 135. If AB= 8km and AC= 6km,
what is the bearing of B from C?
5b4
According to the Pythagorean theorem, and the meaning of
therectangular cordinates (x, y),
d = x + y.
2
Therefore,
Problem 3. How far from the origin is the point (5, 12)?
Note:
N30E means the direction is 30 east of north.
The bearing to a point is the angle measured in a clockwise direction from the north line.
Note:
The direction of P from O is N65E.
The direction of Q from O is N60W.
A bearing is used to represent the direction of one point relative to another point.
For example, the bearing of A from B is 065.
The bearing of B from A is 245.
Note:
Example 19
A boat sails from a certain port in the direction N30W. After the boat has sailed 20 km, how far is it west of the port?
Solution:
Let the boat be x km west of the port.
Example 20
A cyclist travels 10 km south, then 8 km east. Find the cyclist's bearing from her starting point to the nearest degree.
Solution: