Clinometer Project 

 

 


 

Project Overview:  You will construct a clinometer and use it to calculate the height of tall objects around the school.  A clinometer is device used to measure the angle of elevation.  The height of various tall objects will then be calculated using the angle of elevation, the eyeball height of the measurer, the distance from the measurer to the base of the tall object, and trigonometry.

 

 

How to make a clinometer:

 

  1. Get your supplies: a drinking straw, a semicircle piece of cardboard, tape, protractor, string (something that is sturdy but not very thick!), and a weight (a washer works well!).  You can use other materials if you would like.

 

  1. Use a protractor to divide the cardboard into intervals measured in degrees going from 90 to 0 to 90.  In other words, 90 should be marked at the top right and the top left and 0 should be at the bottom of the curve.  Your intervals should not be greater than 5 degrees.  Accuracy is very important as it will impact your findings!  You can also photocopy a protractor, renumber it, and then tape it to cardboard—this will be more accurate than if you recreate the protractor!

 

  1. Tape a straw along the straightedge of the semicircle.

 

  1. Tape the string exactly at the center of the straightedge.  You will not get accurate readings unless the string is at the center.  The thickness and texture of the string is important.

 

  1. Attach the weight to the string.  The string should hang taut.  If it does not then add more weight.  Make sure that as you rotate the clinometer, the string can move across the cardboard and not get hung up on anything.

 

  1. Decorate your clinometer.  Be creative!

 

  1. To check accuracy, if you hold the clinometer parallel to the ground, the string should hang at 0° since there is no angle of elevation.  If you hold your clinometer perpendicular to the ground, then the string should hang at 90°.

 

 

Due Dates:

 

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    Each group (size two or three) needs to have one clinometer and one tape measurer for class on Friday 6/10.  We will go outside on that day to gather measurements if the weather cooperates (as long as there is no rain)!  Calculations and clinometers will be submitted at the end of class that day.