1. What is Angle of Depression?

The angle of depression is the angle between the horizontal line of sight and the line of sight downward to an object. It's commonly used in navigation, surveying, and architecture.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the trigonometric formula:

Where:

• \( \theta \) — Angle of depression (degrees)
• \( \text{opposite} \) — Vertical distance (feet)
• \( \text{adjacent} \) — Horizontal distance (feet)

Explanation: The calculator first finds the ratio of opposite to adjacent sides, then calculates the inverse tangent (arctangent) of that ratio to determine the angle.

3. Applications of Angle of Depression

Details: Used in determining heights of buildings, aircraft navigation, creating topographic maps, and in various engineering applications where line of sight measurements are important.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the vertical distance (opposite side) and horizontal distance (adjacent side) in feet. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between angle of elevation and depression?
A: Angle of elevation looks upward from horizontal, while angle of depression looks downward from horizontal.

Q2: Can this calculator be used with metric units?
A: Yes, as long as both measurements are in the same units (meters, centimeters, etc.).

Q3: What's the range of possible angles?
A: The angle of depression ranges from 0° (looking straight ahead) to 90° (looking straight down).

Q4: How accurate is this calculation?
A: The calculation is mathematically precise, but real-world accuracy depends on measurement precision.

Q5: What if my adjacent side is zero?
A: This would mean you're directly above the object, resulting in a 90° angle of depression. The calculator requires positive values.