Question 160591
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).

The distance from the ground level to the underside of a cloud is called the ceiling. A ground observer {{{950 m}}} from a searchlight aimed vertically notes that the angle of elevation of the spot of light on a cloud is {{{76 }}}degrees. What is the ceiling?

Solution:

In the right-angled triangle ABC,

{{{tan(A)=oppositeside/adjacentside}}}

{{{tan 76= h/950m}}}….make {{{h}}} the subject

{{{tan 76*950m= h*950m/950m}}}

{{{h = tan 76*950m}}}

{{{h = 4.01078093353585*950m}}}

{{{h = 3810.24m}}}