Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Angles of Elevation and Depression

We all have studied Trignometry. Today we shall be applying the trignometric results to discuss problems regarding heights and distances.

Let O and P be two points such that the point P is at higher level. Let OA and PB be horizontal lines through O and P respectively.


If an observer is at O and the point P is the object under consideration, then the line OP is called the line of sight of the point P and the angle AOP, between the line of sight and the horizontal line OA, is known as the angle of elevation of point P as seen from O.

See the figure below:-

If the observer is at P and the object under consideration is at O, then the angle BPO is known as the angle of depression of O as seen from P.

Hence, the angle of elevation of a point P as seen from a point O is equal to the angle depression of O as seen from P.




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