21.

The angle of elevation of the top of a 15m high tower at point 15m away
from the base of the tower is
(a) 30o

(b) 60o

(c) 45o

(d) 75o

Solution
(c)
22. A person standing on the bank of a river finds that the angle of elevation of
the top of a tower on the opposite bank is 45o. Then which of the
following statements is correct.
(a) breadth of the river is twice the height of the tower.
(b) breadth of the river is half the height of the tower.
(c) breadth of the river is equal to the height of the tower.
(d) none of these.
Solution
(c)
23. If the elevation of the sun is 30o, then the length of the shadow cast by a
tower of 150 feet height is
(a) 150 feet

(b)

(c)

(d) 200 m

Solution
(c)

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

PREVIOUS YEARS QUESTIONS
1. The angle of elevation of a jet plane from a point A on the ground is 60 o.
After a flight of 15 seconds, the angle of elevation changes to 30o. If the jet
plane is flying at a constant height of
, find the speed of the jet

plane.
Solution
720 km/hr
2. The angle of elevation of the top Q of a vertical tower PQ from a point X on
the ground is 60o. At a point Y, 40 m vertically above X, the angle of
elevation is 45o. Find the height of the tower PQ and the distance XQ.
Solution
109.3 m, 94.64 m
3. An aeroplane, when 3000m high, passes vertically above another
aeroplane at an instant when the angles of elevation of the two aeroplanes
from the same point on the ground are 60o and 45o respectively. Find the
vertical distance between the two aeroplanes.
Solution
1268 m
4. From a window ( metres high above the ground) of a house in a street,
the angles of elevation and depression of the top and the foot of another
house on the opposite side of the street are and respectively. Show that
the height of the opposite house is (
t n ot )
Or
A man on the deck of a ship is 12 m above water level. He observes that the
angle of elevation of the top of a cliff is 45o, and angle of depression of the
base is 30o. Calculate the distance of cliff from the ship and the height of
the cliff.

Solution
Or 20.784 m , 32.784 m
5. A pole 5m high is fixed on the top of a tower. The angle of elevation of the
top of the pole observed from point A on the ground is 6 o and the angle
of depression of the point A from the top of the tower is 4 o. Find the
height of the tower.
Solution
6.82 m
6. From the top of a tower 50 m high the angles of depression of the top and
bottom of a pole are observed to be 45o and 60o respectively. Find the
height of the pole.
Solution
21.13 m
7. From the top of a tower, the angles of depression of two objects on the
same side of the tower are found to be and ( > ). If the distance
between the obje ts is metres show th t the height of the tower is
given by
Also determine the height of the tower, if =50 m,

60o,

0o.

Solution
Height =

8. From the top of a building 15 m high, the angle of elevation is found to be

30o.From the bottom of the same building, the angle of elevation of the top
of the tower is found to be 45o.Determine the height of the tower and the
distance between the tower and the building.
Solution
35.5 m, 35.5 m

9. The angle of elevation of the top of the tower from a point A on the ground
is 30o.On moving a distance of 20 metres towards the foot of the tower to a
point B, the angle of elevation increases to 60o. Find the height of the tower
and distance of the tower from the point A.
Solution
17.32 m, 30 m
10. The angle of elevation of the top of a light house, as seen by a person on
the ground, is such that t n

. When the person moves a distance of

240 m towards the light house, the angle of elevation becomes such
that t n

. Find the height of the light house.

Solution
225 m
11. From a window (60 metres high above the ground) of a house in a street,
the angles of elevation and depression of the top and the foot of another
house on the opposite side of the street are 60o and 45o respectively. Show
that the height of the opposite house is 6 (
)

12. The angle of elevation and depression of the top and bottom of a lighthouse from the top of a building, 60 m high, are 30o and 60o respectively.
Find
(i) the difference between the height of the light house and the
building.
(ii) distance between the light-house and the building.
Solution
(i) 20 m,

(ii) 34.64 m

13. If the angle of elevation of a cloud from a point metres above a lake is
and the angle of depression of its reflection in the lake is , prove that the
distance of the cloud from the point of observation is
Or
From an aeroplane vertically above a straight horizontal plane, the
angles of depression of two consecutive kilometer stones on the opposite
sides of the aeroplane are found to be nd . Show that the height of the
aeroplane is
14. A man standing on the deck of a ship, which is 10 m above water level,
observes the angle of elevation of the top of a hill as 60o and the angle of
depression of the base of the hill as 30o.Find the distance of the hill from the
ship and height of the hill.
Solution
17.3 m, 40 m
15. The angles of elevation of the top of a tower from two points P and Q at
distances a and b respectively from the base and in the same straight line
with it, are complimentary. Prove that height of the tower is
16. As observed from the top of a light-house, 100m high above sea level, the
angle of depression of a shop, sailing directly towards it, changes from 30o
to 60o. Determine the distance travelled by the ship during the period of
observation. (
)

Solution
115.46 m
17. A bird is sitting on the top of a tree, which is 80m high. The angle of
elevation of the bird, from a point on the ground is 45o. The bird flies away
from the point of observation horizontally and remains at a constant height.
After 2 seconds, the angle of elevation of the bird from a point of
observation becomes 30o.Find the speed of the flying bird.
Solution

29.28 m/s
18. An aeroplane, flying horizontally 1000m above the ground, is observed at
an angle of elevation of 60o from a point on the ground. After a flight of 10
seconds, the angle of elevation at the point of observation changes to
30o.Find the speed of the plane in m/second.
Solution
115.47 m/sec
19. The angle of elevation of a cloud from a point 200 m above the lake is 30o
and the angle of depression of the reflection of cloud in the lake is 60 o. Find
the height of the cloud.
Or
The angle of elevation of a jet plane from a point A on the ground is 60o.
After a flight of 15 seconds, the angle of elevation changes to 30o.If the jet
plane is flying at a constant height of
, find the speed of the jet

plane.
Solution
400 m Or 720 km/hr
20. On a horizontal plane there is a vertical tower with a flag pole on the top of
the tower. At a point 9 metres away from the foot of the tower the angle of
elevation of the top and bottom of the flag pole are 60o and 30o respectively.
Find the height of the tower and flag pole mounted on it.
Or
From a building 60 metres high the angle of depression of the top and
bottom of lamp-post are 30o and 60o respectively. Find the distance
between lamp-post and building. Also find the difference of height between
building and lamp-post.
Solution

15.588 m, 5.196 m Or 34.64 m and 20 m

21. The angles of depression of the top and bottom of a building 50 metres high
as observed from the top of tower are 30o and 60o respectively. Find the
height of the tower and also the horizontal distance between the building
and the tower.
Or
The angle of elevation of the top of a tower as observed from a point on the
ground is and on moving metres towards the tower the angle of
elevation is . Prove that the height of the tower is
Solution
75 m and 43.3 m
22. A man on of a vertical tower observes a car moving at a uniform speed
coming directly towards it. If it takes 12 minutes for the angle of depression
to change from 30o to 45o how soon after this, will the car reach the tower?
Solution
16 minutes 23 seconds
23. A boy standing on of a horizontal plane finds a bird flying at a distance of
100m from him at an elevation of 30o. A girl standing on the roof of 20
metre high building, finds the angle of elevation of the same bird to be 45o.
Both the boy and the girl are on opposite sides of the bird. Find the distance
of bird from girl.
Solution
30 m
24. A statue 1.46m tall stands on top of a pedestal. From a point on the ground,
the angle of elevation of the top of the statue is 60o and from the same
point, the angle of elevation of the top of the pedestal is 45o.Find the height
of pedestal.

Solution
2m
25. A person standing on the bank of a river observes that the angle of
elevation of the top of a tree standing on the opposite bank is 60 o. When he
moves 40 m away from the bank, he finds the angle of elevation to be 30o.
Find the height of the tree and the width of the river.
Solution
34.64 m, 20 m
26. The angle of elevation of a jet fighter from a point A on the ground is 60o.
After a flight of 15 seconds, the angle of elevation changes to 30 o.If the jet is
flying at a speed of 720 km/hr ,find the constant height. (
)
Solution
2598 m
27. The angle of elevation of a jet fighter from a point A on the ground is 60o.
After a flight of 10 seconds, the angle of elevation changes to 30 o.If the jet is
flying at a speed of 432 km/hr, find the constant height at which the jet is
flying.
Solution
1039.2 m
28. The angle of elevation of a jet fighter from point A on the ground is 60o.
After a flight of 10 seconds, the angle of elevation changes to 30 o.If the jet is
flying at a speed of 648 km/hr, find the constant height at which the plane
is flying.
Solution
1558.8 m
29. The angle of elevation of an aeroplane from a point A on the ground is 60o.
After a flight of 30 seconds, the angle of elevation changes to 30 o.If the
plane is flying at a constant height of 6
Find the speed in km/hr
of the plane.

Solution
864 km/hr
30. An aeroplane when 3000 m high, passes vertically above another plane at
an instant, when the angle of elevation of the two aeroplanes from the same
point on the ground are 60o and 45o respectively. Find the vertical distance
between aeroplanes.
Solution
1268 m
31. A straight highway leads to the foot of the tower. A man standing at the top
of the tower observes a car at an angle of depression of 30o, which is
approaching the foot of the tower with a uniform speed, 6 seconds later the
angle of depression of the car is found to be 60o. Find the time taken by the
car to reach the foot of the tower from this point.
Solution
3 seconds
32. (a) A person is standing on the bank of the river observes that the angle of
elevation of the top of a tower standing on the opposite bank is 60o
when he moves 40m away from the bank, he finds the angle of the
elevation to be 30o. Find the height of the tower and the width of
river.
Or
As observed from the top of a light house 100m high above sea level,
the angle of depression of a ship sailing directly towards it, changes
from 30o to 60o. Determine the distance travelled by the ship during
the period of observation.
Solution

Or

(b) From a point 100m above a lake, the angle of elevation of a stationary
helicopter is 30o and the angle of depression of reflection of the
helicopter in the lake is 60o. Find the height of the helicopter.
Or
The angles of elevation of an aeroplane from a point on the ground is
60o .After a flight of 15 seconds, the angle of elevation changes to 30o.If
the aeroplane is flying at a height of
, find the speed of the

aeroplane.
Solution
200 m Or 200 m/sec
(c) A straight highway leads to the foot of the tower. A man standing at the
top of the tower observes a car at an angle of depression of 30o, which
is approaching the foot of the tower with a uniform speed, Six seconds
later the angle of depression of the car s found to be 60o.Find the time
taken by the car to reach the foot of the tower from this point.
Solution
3 seconds
(d) The angles of o depression of the top and bottom of an 8m tall building
from the top of a multi-storeyed building are 30o and 45o respectively.
Find the height of the multi-storeyed building and the distance
between the two buildings.
Solution
4(

(e) A pole 5m high is fixed on the top of a tower. The angle of elevation of
the top of the pole observed from a point A on the ground is 60 o and
the angle of depression of the point A from the top of the tower is 45o.
Find the height of the tower. (
).

Solution
(

(f) An aeroplane when flying at a height of 3125 m from the ground passes
vertically below another plane at an instant when the angles of
elevation of the two planes from the same point on the ground are 30o
and 60o respectively. Find the distance between the two planes at that
instant.
Solution
2083.33 m
(g) From the top of a building 60 m high, the angles of depression of
the top and bottom of a vertical lamp post are 30o and 60o respectively.
Find
(i) The horizontal distance between building and lamp post.
(ii) The height of the lamp post,
.
Solution
distance = 34.64 m, height= 40 m
(h) A 1.2 m tall girl spots a balloon moving with the wind in a horizontal
line at a height of 88.2 m from the ground. The angle of elevation of the
balloon from the eyes of the girl at that instant is 60o. After some
time the angle of elevation reduces to 30o. Find the distance travelled
by the balloon during the interval.
Solution

(i) The angle of elevation of the top of a building from the foot of a tower is
30o and the angle of elevation of the top of the tower from the foot of
the building is 60o. If the tower is 50m high. Find the height of the
building.

Solution
16.67 m
(j) A tower stand vertically on a bank of a canal from a point on the other
bank directly opposite the tower, the angle of elevation of the top of the
tower is 60o, from another point 20 m away from this point on the line
joining this point to the foot of the tower, the angle of elevation of the
top of the tower is 30o. Find the height of the tower and the width of the
canal.
Solution
Height of tower = 17.3 m, width of canal =10 m
(k) A man is standing on the deck of a ship which is 25 cm above water
level. He observes the angle of elevation of the top of a light house is
60o and the angle of depression of the base of the light house as 45o.
Calculate the height of the light house.
Solution
68.25 m
(l) From the top of a 7 m height building, the angle of elevation of the top
of a tower is 60o and the angle of depression of the foot of the tower is
30o. Find the height of the tower.
Solution
28 m
(m) A man on the deck of a ship, 12 m above water level observes that the
angle of elevation of the top of a cliff is 60o and the angle of depression
of the base of the cliff is 30o. Find the distance of the cliff from the ship
and the height of the cliff. [
]

Or

The angle of elevation of a cloud from a point 60 m above a lake is 30o

and the angle of depression of the reflection of the cloud in the lake is
60o. Find the height of the cloud from the surface of the lake.
Solution
48 m Or 120 m
(n) From a window (9 m above the ground) of a house in a street, the
angles of elevation and depression of the top and foot of another house
on the opposite side of the street are 30o and 60o respectively. Find the
height of the opposite house and the width of the street.
[
]

Or
A vertical pedestal stands on the ground and is surmounted by a vertical
flag staff of height 5 m. At a point on the ground the angles of elevation
of the bottom and the top of the flag staff are 30o and 60o respectively.
Find the height of the pedestal.
Solution
17 m Or 2.5 m

PRACTISE QUESTIONS
33. A round balloon of radius subtends an angle at the at the eye of the
observer while the angle of elevation of its centre is . Prove that the height
of the centre of the balloon is sin

34. In the given figure, ABCD is a trapezium in which AB CD. Line segments
RS and LM are drawn parallel to AB such that AJ=JK=KP. If AB= 0.5 m and
AP=BQ= 1.8 m, find the length of AC, BD, RS and LM.

50m

Solution
AC = 2.0785 m,
RS = 1.1928 m,

BD=AC=2.0785 m.
LM=1.8856 m.

35. A man is standing on the deck of a ship, which is 8 m above water level. He
observes the angle of elevation of the top of a hill as 60o and angle of
depression of the base of the hill as 30o. Calculate the distance of the hill
from the ship and the height of the hill.
Solution
,

36. A person standing on the bank of a river observes that the angle of
elevation of the top of a tree standing on the opposite bank is 60o. When he
moves 40 m away from the bank, he finds the angle of elevation to be 30o.
Find the height of the tree and the width of the river.
Solution
Height of the tree=34.64 m and width of the river = 20 m.
37. A man on the deck of a ship is 16 m above water level. He observes that the
angle of elevation of the top of a cliff is 45o and angle of depression of the
base is 30o. Calculate the distance of cliff from the ship and the height of the
cliff.
Solution
43.712 m, 27.712 m

38. A parachutist is descending vertically and makes angles of depression of

45o and 60o at two observation points 100 m apart from each other on the
left side of himself. Find, in metres the approximate height from which he
falls and also find, in metres the approximate distance of the point he falls
on the ground from the first observation point.
Solution
236.5 m, 136.5 m
39. A person, standing on the bank of a river, observes that the angle
subtended by a tree on the opposite bank is 60o, when he retreats 20 m
from the bank, he finds the angle to be 30o. Find the height of the tree and
the breadth of the river.
Solution
10 m, 17.32 m
40. The shadow of a flagstaff is three times as long as the shadow of the
flagstaff when the sun rays meet the ground at an angle of 60o. Find the
angle between the sun rays and the ground at the time of the longer
shadow.
Solution
30o
41. At the foot of a mountain, the elevation of its summit is 45o .After ascending
1000 m towards the mountain up a slope of 30o inclination the elevation is
found to be 60o. Find the height of the mountain.
Solution
1.366 km
42. A person observed the angle of elevation of the top of a tower to be 30o. He
walked 50 m towards the foot of the tower along level ground and found
the angle of elevation of the top of the tower to be 45o. Find the height of
the tower.
Solution

68.25 m
43. The length of the shadow of a tower standing on level ground is found to be
metres longer when the suns ltitude is o than when it was 45o. Prove
that the height of the tower is (
.
)
44. A fire in a building B is reported on telephone to two fire stations P and Q ,
20 km apart from each other on a straight road. P observes that the fire is at
an angle of 60o to the road and Q observes that it is at an angle of 45o to the
road. Which station should send its team and how much will this team have
to travel?
Solution
Station P, 14.64 km
45. There are two temples one on each bank of a river, just opposite to each
other. One temple is 50m high. From the top of this temple, the angles of
depression of the top and the foot are 30o and 60o respectively. Find the
width of river and the height of the other temple.
Solution
28.87 m, 33.33 m
46. The angle of elevation of an aeroplane from a point on the ground is 45o.
After a flight of 15 seconds, the elevation changes to 30o. If the aeroplane is
flying at a height of 3000 m, find the speed of the aeroplane.
Solution
527.04 km/hr
47. The horizontal distance between two trees of different heights is 60 m. The
angle of depression of the top of the first tree when seen from the top of the
second tree is 45o. If the height of the second tree is 80 m, find the height of
the first tree.
Solution
20 m

48. The angle of elevation of the top of a vertical tower PQ from a point X on the
ground is 60o. At a point Y, 40 m vertically above X, the angle of elevation of
the top is 45o. Calculate the height of the tower.
Solution
94.64 m
49. PQ is a post of given height nd AB is tower t some dist n e, nd
are the angles of elevation of B, the top of the tower, at P and Q respectively.
Find the height of the tower and its distance from the post.
Solution
,
50. From an aeroplane vertically above a straight horizontal road, the angles of
depression of two consecutive milestones on opposite sides of the
eropl ne re observed to be nd Show that the height of the aeroplane
above the road is
.
51. A tower subtends n ngle t point A in the pl ne of its b se nd the
angle of depression of the foot of the tower at a point metres just above A
is Prove th t the height of tower is
52. A man rowing a boat away from a light house 150m high takes 2 minutes to
change the angle of elevation of the top of light house from 45 o to 30o. Find
the speed of the boat.
Solution
54.9 m/min
53. Two boats approach a light house in mid-sea from opposite directions. The
angles of elevation of the top of the light house from two boats are 30o and
45o respectively. If the distance between two boats is 100m, find the height
of the light house.

Solution
(

54. From the terrace of a house 8m, the angle of elevation of the top of a tower
is 45o and the angle of depression of its reflection in a lake is found to be
60o. Determine the height of the tower from the ground.
Solution
29.86 m
55. The angle of elevation of an aeroplane as observed from a point 10 m above
the ground is found to be 30o and the angle of depression of its reflection in
a lake is found to be 60o. Determine the height of the aeroplane from the
ground.
Solution
20 m
56. A path separates two walls. A ladder leaning against one wall rests at a
point on the path. It reaches a height of 90 m on the wall and makes an
angle of 60o with the ground. If while resting at the same point on the path,
it were made to lean against the other wall, it would have made an angle of
45o with the ground. Find the height it would have reached on the second
wall.
Solution
73.47 m
57. The height of a tower is half the height of the flagstaff on it. The angle of
elevation of the top of the tower as seen from a point on the ground is 30 o.
Find the angle of elevation of the top of the flagstaff as seen from the same
point.
Solution
60o

58. The pilot of an aircraft flying horizontally at a speed of 1200 km/ hr.
observes that the angle of depression of a point on the ground changes
from 30o to 45o in 15 seconds. Find the height at which the aircraft is flying.
Solution
6.83 km
59. A bridge across a river makes an angle of 45o with the river bank (Fig.
given). If the length of the bridge across the river is 150 m, what is the
width of the river?

River

150m

River
45

Solution
105.75 m

NCERT QUESTIONS
60. A man sitting at a height of 20m on a tall tree on a small island in the middle
of a river observes two poles directly opposite each other on the two banks
of the river and in a line with the foot of the tree. If the angles of depression
of the feet of the poles from a point at which the man is sitting on the tree
on either side of the river are 60o and 30o respectively. Find the width of
the river.
Solution
46.14 m

61. A 1.2 m tall girl spots a balloon moving with the wind in a horizontal line at
a height of 88.2 m from the ground. The angle of elevation of the balloon
from the eyes of the tall girl at any instant is 60o. After some time, the angle
of elevation reduces to 30o. Find the distance travelled by the balloon
during the interval.

88.2m
60
30

Solution

62. A straight highway leads to the foot of a tower. A man standing at the top of
the tower observes a car at an angle of depression of 30o, which is
approaching the foot of the tower with a uniform speed. Six minutes later,
the angle of depression of the car is found to be 60o. Find the total time
taken by the car to reach the foot of the tower.
Solution
9 minutes

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. The lower window of a house is at a height of 2 m above the ground and its
upper window is 4 m vertically above the lower window. At certain instant
the angles of elevation of a balloon from these windows are observed to be
60o and 30o respectively. Find the height of the balloon above the ground.
HIGHER ORDER THINKING SKILLS (HOTS) QUESTIONS
1. The angle of elevation of a cliff from a fixed point is . After going up a
distance of k metres towards the top of the cliff at an angle of , it is found
th t the ngle of elev tion is , show th t the height of the liff is
(

2. Two stations due south of a leaning tower which leans towards north are at
distances and from its foot. Let nd be the elev tions of the top of
the tower from these stations, prove that its inclination to the horizontal
is given by ot
3. A vertical rod is fixed in a horizontal rectangular field ABCD. The angular
elevations of its top from A, B, C nd D re , , nd respe tively Show
that
4. If the angle of elevation of a cloud from a point metres bove l ke is
and the angle of depression of its reflection in the lake is Prove that the
distance of the cloud from the point of observation is
5. A l dder rests g inst w ll t ngle to the horizont l Its foot is pulled
away from the wall through a distance , so that it slides a distance
down the wall making n ngle with the horizont l Show that
.

6. From the top of a light house, the angles of depression of two ships on the
opposite sides of it re observed to be nd . Let the height of the light
house be h metres and the line joining the ships passes through the foot of
the light house, show that the distance between the ships is,
(