Math 10
Angle of Elevation and Depression
Grouping:
For all of today’s activities, students should be grouped in threes.
Materials:
Tape measures
Clinometer templates
Straws
Washers
Scissors
Do Now
Have students complete the Do Now handout to review finding sides in right triangles given one
side and an angle. Students will put solutions on the board.
Concept Development
 Ask each student in the group to measure the height of his/her eyes, and identify an
object or picture in the classroom that is the exact same height.
 Define “horizontal”
 Define “elevation” and “depression”
 Have students identify objects in the classroom that they would have to look up to see
(elevation) and objects that they would have to look down to see (depression).
Concept Practice
 Ask students to come out to the atrium and look at the railing around the top. Each group
must make an estimate as to how high above the ground floor the top of that railing is.
These estimates will be recorded on the board.
 Ask students how we could measure this height without directly measuring.
 Build clinometers.
 Groups return to atrium to calculate from the main floor the height of the railing on the
second floor.
 Return to classroom and record the calculated measurement beside each group’s original
estimate.
 Tell the students the actual measurement.
More practice
 Have groups complete the practice question worksheet together.
Homework
 As assigned by the classroom teacher.
Math 10
Do Now
As a group, solve for the indicated side in each triangle.
a)
b)
c)
3 cm
x
22
8m
x
28
x
27
8 mm
Work:
Answer: a) _________
b) ____________
c) ______________
Math 10
Angle of Elevation and Depression
Practice Questions
Please work with your group to answer each of the following, showing all steps and
calculations.
From a point 25 m away from the foot of a flag-pole, the angle of elevation of the top of the pole
is 6˚. Calculate the height of the pole to the nearest meter.
From the top of a tower 14 m high, a princess looks down at an angle of depression of 62˚. How
far from the base of the tower is the prince?
Math 10
Angle of Elevation and Depression
You
Height of Eyes
Object at Same Height:
_____________
List 5 Objects





You
You
List 5 Objects




