1. What is the Angle of Elevation?

Definition: The angle of elevation is the angle between the horizontal line and the line of sight when looking upward at an object.

Purpose: It's commonly used in trigonometry, surveying, navigation, and various engineering applications to determine heights or distances.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the tangent trigonometric function:

Where:

• \( \theta \) — Angle of elevation (degrees)
• opposite — Height difference (vertical distance in meters)
• adjacent — Horizontal distance (in meters)

Explanation: The calculator computes the inverse tangent (arctangent) of the ratio between opposite and adjacent sides to find the angle.

3. Practical Applications

Details: Used in construction for roof pitch calculations, in aviation for approach angles, in astronomy for celestial measurements, and in various engineering fields.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the vertical height (opposite side) and horizontal distance (adjacent side) in meters. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between angle of elevation and depression?
A: Angle of elevation is looking upward, while angle of depression is looking downward from a horizontal line.

Q2: What's the maximum possible angle of elevation?
A: The maximum is 90° when looking straight up (adjacent side approaches zero).

Q3: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It's mathematically precise for right triangles. Accuracy depends on your measurement precision.

Q4: Can I use different units besides meters?
A: Yes, as long as both measurements use the same units (feet, meters, etc.).

Q5: What if I know the hypotenuse instead?
A: You would need to use the sine or cosine function instead of tangent.