How to Make a Clinometer

     A clinometer is device used to measure the angle of elevation.  Using this,we will determine the heights of tall objects using the angle of elevation, the height of the measurer, the distance from the measurer to the tall object, and trigonometry

  Materials Required

    A drinking straw, A semicircle piece of cardboard, A base to mount the semicircle of                 

         cardboard (optional), tape, protractor, string, and A weight (such as a washer).

   Procedure

1.     Use a protractor to divide the cardboard into intervals in which 90 should be marked at the top right and at the top left and 0 should be at the center of the bottom of the curve.  Your intervals should not be greater than 5 degrees.
2.     Tape a straw along the straight-edge of the semicircle.
3.     Tape the string exactly at the center of the straightedge. You will not get accurate readings unless the string is at the center.  Also do not use very thick string.
4.     Attach the weight to the string so it hangs stretched .  To check for accuracy, when you hold your clinometer parallel to the ground (no elevation) the string should hang at 0°
5.     Decorate your clinometer and its ready for use.

  Using The Clinometer

1.     Stand in front of a tall object that is perpendicular to the ground.  Your measurements will not be accurate if the object is not upright and/or you are not standing at the same level as the object.
2.     Group member A will look through the straw and tilt his/her head up until he/she can see the very top of the object.
3.     Group member B/C will read and record the angle measurement on the clinometer.  Wait until the string stops moving and very carefully approximate the degree measure.
4.       Group members B/C will measure and record the distance between where group member A is standing and the base of the tall object.  Be sure the tape measurer is on the ground and runs from the base of A’s feet to the base of the object via shortest path.