How do I estimate how tall this building is?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around estimating the height of a building featured in a video, specifically for a physics assignment. Participants explore various methods to estimate the height, considering both practical and theoretical approaches.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests counting the floors and multiplying by an average height of 3.50 m for a rough estimate.
  • Another proposes using trigonometry by finding an object of known height and measuring its distance to the building.
  • A humorous suggestion involves using a barometer to measure the height by timing how long it takes to fall from the top of the building.
  • Another participant reiterates the barometer method, adding a humorous remark about a broken barometer.
  • One participant mentions using the shadow of the building to estimate its height, but emphasizes the need to account for the sun's position and the shadow length of a known height object for accuracy.
  • A later reply agrees with the shadow method but stresses the importance of measuring quickly due to changing shadow lengths.
  • Another participant estimates the building to be about 10-12 floors based on previous suggestions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple methods for estimating the building's height, with no consensus on a single approach. Some methods are discussed humorously, while others are more technical, indicating a mix of serious and lighthearted contributions.

Contextual Notes

Some methods depend on specific conditions, such as the time of day for shadow measurements, and assumptions about average floor height. The effectiveness of each method may vary based on these factors.

Who May Find This Useful

Students working on physics assignments related to measurement and estimation, as well as those interested in practical applications of physics concepts in real-world scenarios.

Henrybar
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How do I estimate the height of the tall building spiderman swings to at 0:48? I need it for a physics assignment. What does you're intuition tell you? (I've never lived in a city full of buildings). Is there a way to estimate it using physics? I'm not sure that building actually exists.

 
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If you can count the floors then you can multiply it by 3.50 m to get a rough estimate. Otherwise you will have to look for something with known height, its distance to the building and then do some trigonometry.
 
Henrybar said:
Is there a way to estimate it using physics?
Take a barometer to the top of the building, drop it off the side, and time how long the barometer takes to reach the ground. From that time, you can calculate the height of the building. :oldbiggrin:

BTW, is this a homework question?
 
Mark44 said:
Take a barometer to the top of the building, drop it off the side, and time how long the barometer takes to reach the ground.
Anyone want to buy a broken barometer? No pressure!
 
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you can use the shadow made by the building and measure the shadow's length
 
Mohamad Kassar said:
you can use the shadow made by the building and measure the shadow's length

yes, but it cannot be done just on it's own, as depending on the time of day ( sun position) the shadow can be longer or shorter that what the building is tall

you forgot the important part ..
That is, you also measure the shadow length of a known height object ... yourself, for example
then the ratio of your shadow length to your height can then be applied to the building's shadow
This needs to be done quickly as the sun is always moving and the shadow length always changingDave
 
The building looks to be about 10-12 floors. See post #2.
 

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