Proportions - Measure height using shadows - do it yourself

1. Gather some information about scale and proportions
Watch MathFLIX videos: Introduction | Lamp Post | Lighthouse | Tree

2. Identify 3 objects whose height you could measure using this method.
For this exercise, the objects should be taller than you. The objects could be in your yard, your school's yard, or in a local park.

3. Think Carefully:

Make a list of tools you will need to do an actual shadow measurement of these objects. Include EVERYTHING!

How might a rope or a large ball of string be a helpful tool for doing these measurements?

Identify a poor time of day for doing a shadow measurements. Why would it be a bad time?

 

Not sure? Then conduct an observation. On a sunny day - Begin at at 8am. Poke a stick in the ground in an open area. Choose a spot where the stick will be in the sun all day, but will not be in the way of other people. The stick should be close to or standing straight up (perpendicular to the ground).

Once each hour for 6 hours - go outside. Observe the shadow. Use another meter stick or yard stick to measure the shadow's length.

Remember the drawings the teachers used in the Proportion videos?
Draw a simple diagram showing the shadow and the stick each time. Pay careful attention when drawing the shadow.

Consider the data and the drawings. What have you found?

4. Whether you like it or not, the weather will play a role in whether you can do your observations.
Explain.

5. Take your tools outside. Make your measurements.

How tall is the tallest tree on the property?

How tall is the tallest structure?

Further thinking:

Save a tree - use a Digital Answer format - Highlight the text. Copy it. Paste it in a word processing document. Save the document in your folder. Answer on the word processing document in a contrasting color (not yellow) or font (avoid , or other ornate artistic fonts). Save frequently as you work. I have never liked losing my work. You will not like it either. Be sure to enter your name & the date at the top of the document. Submit via email attachment or class dropbox. Bad things happen: Save a copy of the response document for your records.

Proof your responses. It is funny how speling errors and typeos sneak in to the bets work.