1. What is Angle of Elevation?

The angle of elevation is the angle between the horizontal line and the line of sight to an object above the horizontal. It's commonly used in surveying, navigation, and construction to determine heights and distances.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the trigonometric formula:

Where:

• Opposite — The height difference (vertical distance)
• Adjacent — The horizontal distance
• arctan — The inverse tangent function

Explanation: The formula calculates the angle whose tangent is the ratio of the opposite side to the adjacent side in a right triangle.

3. Practical Applications

Details: Angle of elevation calculations are essential in architecture, engineering, astronomy, and even sports like golf. They help determine heights of buildings, trajectory angles, and celestial object positions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the vertical height (opposite side) and horizontal distance (adjacent side) in feet. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will output the angle in degrees.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

Q2: Can I use this for slope calculations?
A: Yes, the angle of elevation is essentially the slope angle when considering rise over run.

Q3: What units should I use?
A: The units must be consistent (both in feet, meters, etc.). The calculator uses feet but works with any consistent units.

Q4: How accurate is this calculation?
A: The calculation is mathematically precise, but real-world accuracy depends on measurement precision of the inputs.

Q5: What if my triangle isn't right-angled?
A: This formula only works for right triangles. For other triangles, you'd need different trigonometric approaches.