Clinometer (Math Academy Project)

Summary This is a Simple Clinometer that I designed in SW2003 for a 9th grade Math Project in school. Also known as an inclinometer, it is an instrument used to measure elevation or height of an object. I designed this because we are learning about Trigonometric Functions in Right Triangles, and for our project we have to use the formulas we have learned with a clinometer to find the height of an unknown object. Scale up 17x before printing. From Wikipedia: A forester using a clinometer makes use of basic trigonometry. First the observer measures a straight-line distance D from some observation point O to the object. Then, using the clinometer, the observer measures the angle a between O and the top of the object. Then the observer does the same for the angle b between O and the bottom of the object. Multiplying D by the tangent of a gives the height of the object above the observer, and by the tangent of b the depth of the object below the observer. Adding the two of course gives the total height (H) of the object. Overview and Background Lesson Plan and Activity Choose a tall object outside. Standing several meters from the base of the object, measure the distance to the base. Use the clinometer to find the angle you are standing at, and use the appropriate formulas to calculate the height of the object. Repeat 3 additional times from different distances, average results. Materials Needed -Fishing Line -3D printer] -Filament Print out http://www.timvandevall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Printable-Protractor-01.png at 70% size on a standar inkjet printer. Cut in half and glue onto print.