| $ Store Activity Name: | Laser
Level |
| Concepts / Skills addressed: | measurement, ratios,
trigonometry, pythagorean theorem, similar triangles |
| Approximate Grade Range: | 6th - 10th ? |
| Materials: | Level with angle measurement,
Laser pointer, tape measure |
| The General Idea: | You don't see laser pointers in
dollar stores every day but it does happen. Once you find one,
the idea is simple. When you attach (tape) a laser pointer to the
top of a level that also displays an angle of elevation you can use the
projected beam to find the angle of the right triangle formed by three
points: you, the base of the object whose height you are measuring, and
the top of the object. You will need to measure the distance
between you and the base of the object. (In the diagram below,
this is shown as 100m.) You can read the angle of elevation (In
the diagram below, this is shown as 24 degrees.) from the level. Caution! Never let students get into a situation where they might point the laser into the eyes of anyone else as this can cause injury. |
| Extensions: |
|
| Links: | For a quick review of several
things including the needed trigonometry: http://www.langara.bc.ca/~acooper/modules/trig/notes/5.3/ |
| Author: |
Mark Roddy |
and so, in this case, 
, and you can solve for h, the
height of the object.