Name: _______________________________________ Date: ____________

Year/ Section: _________________________________ Score: ___________

Teacher:______________________________________

Supplement Laboratory Activity No. 1

The Inclinometer

An inclinometer is an instrument for measuring angles of slope (or tilt), elevation or inclination of an
object. It is also known as a clinometer, tilt meter, tilt indicator, slope meter, slope gauge, gradient meter,
gradiometer, level gauge, level meter, pitch & roll indicator. Using an inclinometer, a person can
calculate the height of something that he or she can’t easily measure with a ruler. Also knowledge about
the Pythagorean theorem and the trigonometric functions are an essential in determining the height of
an object.

Pythagorean Theorem: c2= a2 + b2

Trigonometric Functions:
Sine Θ= opposite / hypotenuse
Cosine Θ= adjacent/ hypotenuse
Tangent Θ= opposite/ adjacent

Objective/s:
1. To make an improvised inclinometer.
2. To use an inclinometer in measuring the height of tall objects.
3. To determine the height of an object using the Pythagorean theorem and the trigonometric
functions.

Materials:
• Drinking Straw
• Protractor
• Washer/ 5 centavo coin
• Scotch™ Tape
• String
• Meter Stick
• Scientific Calculator

Procedure/s:
A. Making the improvised inclinometer:
1. Push one end of the string through the washer (5 € coin).
2. Stick/ Tape the other end of the string to the center of the
protractor (90o). See to it that the string and washer can slide
freely.
3. After procedures 1-2, tape the protractor in the drinking straw as
seen in figure 1.2.
B. Measuring the height of a tall object:
1. Choose something tall to measure.
2. Determine your distance from the base of the object that you will
measure.
3. Look at the top of the object through your inclinometer and determine what angle your
inclinometer measures. Write down this angle.
Dominus Illuminatio Mea Dominus Illuminatio Mea Dominus Illuminatio MeaDominus Illuminatio Mea Dominus Illuminatio Mea
 4. Calculate now the height of the object using the Pythagorean theorem/ trigonometric functions.

Presentation of Data:

Trial Distance from the Angle Measured by Height of the Object

Object the Inclinometer
1
2
3
Average:

Calculation/s:

Conclusion/s:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________.

Prepared by: Mr. Jayson G. Chavez (06-18-2007)

Dominus Illuminatio Mea Dominus Illuminatio Mea Dominus Illuminatio MeaDominus Illuminatio Mea Dominus Illuminatio Mea