Question

A flag pole 23 feet tall casts a shadow 16 feet long at a specific time of day.

Find the angle of elevation theta of the sun at this time of day

Answer 1

To find the angle of elevation theta of the sun at a specific time of day, we can use the concept of similar triangles.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the angle of elevation theta of the sun at a specific time of day, we can use the concept of similar triangles. Let the height of the flagpole be h and the length of its shadow be s. We can set up the proportion:

h/s = tan(theta)

Substituting the given values, we get:

23/16 = tan(theta)

To find theta, we can take the inverse tangent of both sides of the equation:

theta = atan(23/16)

Using a calculator, we find that theta is approximately 57.75 degrees.