lab 4

lab_4.docx

Experimental measurement of the angles and sides of a right triangle:

	Side “a” (cm)	Side “b” (cm)	Side “c” (cm)	Angle “A”	Angle “B”
Measurements

Calculations:

	Angle “A”	Angle “B”
Calculation of Angle Using sin function sin= opposite/hypotenuse
Calculation of Angle Using cos function cos = adjacent/hypotenuse
Calculation of Angle Using tan function tan = opposite/adjacent
Average value of Angle

Procedure 2:

Determination of the sides of a right triangle when the hypotenuse and one angle are measured:

	Hypotenuse	Angle “B”
Measurement

	Side “a”	Side “b”
Calculated length using trig functions
Measured length
Difference between calculated and measured values

Procedure 3:

Determination of the hypotenuse and angles of a right triangle when the sides are measured:

	Side “a”	Side “b”
Measurement (cm)

	Hypotenuse	Angle “B”	Angle “A”
Calculated values
Measured values
Difference between calculated and measured values

Procedure 4:

Indirect measurements of heights by trigonometry

Distance to building (m)

Distance from ground to eyes (m)

Angle to top of building

Height “b”

tan B = opposite/adjacent

Total height = Ht “b” + “ground to eyes” ht

Questions:

A. Draw a triangle with sides measuring 8, 12, and 14.4 units. With a protractor measure the angles. Then compute the angles trigonometrically.

B. What would happen in your previous experiments if the wall or building were not perpendicular to the ground?

C. What uncertainty is introduced into the experiment by using a tape measure to measure the sides of the triangle?

D. To what degree of accuracy can you read a protractor?