Definition of Angle of Elevation
The angle of elevation is the angle formed by a horizontal line and the line of sight when an observer looks upwards at an object. It measures the upward tilt from a horizontal perspective to the object being viewed.
Key Components
This angle is comprised of two lines: a horizontal line representing the observer's eye level or ground parallel, and a line of sight that extends from the observer's eye directly to the object. The vertex of the angle is at the observer's eye or position.
Practical Example
Imagine standing on the ground and looking up at the top of a tall tree. The angle formed between the level ground (your horizontal line) and your gaze directed to the treetop (your line of sight) is the angle of elevation. If you were looking at an airplane, it would be the angle from your horizontal view to the plane.
Importance and Applications
Angles of elevation are crucial in various fields, including surveying, navigation, astronomy, and architecture. They allow engineers to determine the height of buildings, pilots to calculate flight paths, and astronomers to measure celestial object positions, all by using trigonometry with a known distance or height.