PHY LAB 4 EXPERIMENT: Trigonometric Measurements
Subject: Physics / General Physics
Question
Lab Report Name: ____________________
Section: ___________________
EXPERIMENT: Trigonometric Measurements
Data Tables:
Procedure 1:
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
59 ½ cm
69 cm
38 cm
55 degrees
65 degrees
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?
