Book 20, Question 5 · Video
How Do Surveyors Measure the Height of a Mountain?
Surveyors are people who measure land very carefully, even the height of giant mountains! For many years, they measured angles to the peak from two known spots, then used geometry
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What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How do surveyors measure the height of a mountain?
The Big Idea
Surveyors are people who measure land very carefully, even the height of giant mountains! For many years, they measured angles to the peak from two known spots, then used geometry to find the height. That method is called triangulation.
Measure Angles
Step one: measure angles. Surveyors stand at two known spots and measure the angle up to the peak with special tools. Each spot gives a different angle, and that is the clue.
Use Geometry
Step two: use geometry. The two spots and the peak make a giant triangle. With the angles and the distance between the spots, math reveals how tall the peak is.
GPS and Satellites
Step three: use modern tools. Today surveyors also use GPS and satellites. Heights are measured from sea level, and new measurements in 2020 gave Mount Everest a height of 29,031.7 feet.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look! First, pick two spots whose positions are known. Next, measure the angle from each spot up to the peak. Then use triangle math to find the height. Finally, satellites and GPS can double check the answer.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Surveyors first measured Everest in the 1850s, long before airplanes. They did it with heavy instruments and lots of careful math. Today's tools, like GPS, can be even more exact. Scientists still check mountain heights, because they can change a little.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Stand a meter stick up outside on a sunny day. Measure its shadow, then measure a tree's shadow. Compare the two shadows to figure out how tall the tree is! Share what you discover with a grown-up.
Outro
Surveyors use angles, math, and satellites to measure mountains. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!