If the height of a pole is \(2\sqrt{3}\) meters and the length of its shadow is 2 meters. The angle of elevation of the sun is:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → 60°
The pole, its shadow and the sun’s ray make a right triangle, with the angle of elevation \(\theta\) of the sun at the tip of the shadow. The pole is the side opposite \(\theta\) and the shadow the side next to it, so \(\tan\theta\) = height of the pole ÷ length of the shadow.
Putting in the height and the shadow: \(\tan\theta=\displaystyle\frac{2\sqrt{3}}{2}=\sqrt{3}\)
The angle whose tangent is \(\sqrt{3}\) is \(60^\circ\), so \(\theta=60^\circ\)
