How Do You Calculate the Angle of Inclination for a Slide?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the angle of inclination for a slide represented as a triangle. Measurements include two points on the slide that are 1 meter apart horizontally, with heights of 23 cm and 35 cm, and a total height of 58 cm. The original poster expresses uncertainty about how to apply trigonometric functions to find the angle of inclination.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between the angle of inclination and the triangle's dimensions, considering the use of tangent and sine functions. Questions arise about the interpretation of the measurements and how to set up the triangle correctly. There is a suggestion to think about the differences in height and horizontal distance to form a right triangle.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the measurements and how they relate to the angle of inclination. Some guidance has been offered regarding the use of trigonometric functions, but no consensus or final solution has been reached.

Contextual Notes

There is some ambiguity regarding the measurements and their arrangement, particularly whether the heights correspond to vertical elevations above a horizontal reference. The original poster indicates a lack of clarity in applying the trigonometric functions to the problem.

chronie
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Homework Statement

/ attempt

I have to find the angel of inclination. I have a slide forming a triangle. We measured two points in the slide a meter apart. those two points are 23cm in one point and 35cm in another. All together it has a height for 58cm. However, I have no clue how to find the angle of inclination. I know I should use either sin or tan but I don't know how I plug in the values

Attached is a picture.

much thanks,

Chronie

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/782/49775363zx5.th.jpg
 
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chronie said:

Homework Statement

/ attempt

I have to find the angel of inclination. I have a slide forming a triangle. We measured two points in the slide a meter apart. those two points are 23cm in one point and 35cm in another. All together it has a height for 58cm. However, I have no clue how to find the angle of inclination. I know I should use either sin or tan but I don't know how I plug in the value.

It is not too clear from the picture, but are the two lengths 23 cm and 35 cm elevations of points on the slide above the horizontal, and the two points are 1 m apart as measured along the horizontal?

Think about the relationship between tan [itex]\theta_i[/itex], where [itex]\theta_i[/itex] is the angle of inclination, and the legs of triangles with heights of 23 and 35 cm. If the 23 cm leg is at distance x from the vertex, i.e. where the slide intersects with the horizontal (ground, or reference plane), what is the distance to the 35 cm leg.

Think of similar triangles sharing a common horizontal base, vertex and hypotenuse.
 
So I should take the difference of distance between the two positions.

That gets me 12. Should I then make a triangle and use .12m as my hypotenuse and 1m as my other side and just take the tan inverse of that?
 
chronie said:
So I should take the difference of distance between the two positions.

That gets me 12 cm. Should I then make a triangle and use .12 m as my hypotenuse and 1m as my other side and just take the tan inverse of that?
Well, the 0.12 m would be the vertical leg and 1 m would be the other leg, but if one finds the tan-1 of the ratio (0.12/1), that would give the angle of inclination.
 
ok thank you Astronuc,

I'm new to my college physics classes and some easy things stump me!SOLVED
 

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