Question

Measuring Mount Everest In 1856 The Great Trigonometric Survey of India measured the height of Mount Everest (known in Napali as Sagarmatha and in Tibetan as Chomolungma). The surveyors measured the distance between two points at sea level and then measured the angle from each of these two points to the top of the mountain The summit of Mount Everest is labeled E, the two points A and B are roughly at sea level and are 33 km apart. 1. Why do you think it took so long to determine the elevation of Mount Everest? 2. Draw a diagram, label the angles and the sides, and insert the given information about sides and angles. B

Answer 1

(1) It is very long to determine elevation of mountain, since we have to either climb on mountain or draw the diagram on the paper and draw the perpendicular from the pick of mountain to its base and divide the triangular shape into two right triangle. Now by using trigonometrical ratio we can determine the height of mountain. In both condition determination of mountain height is long.

(2) and (3)(4) For measuring angle we require base and and terminal point where our sight can reach. We are on the base and can see or observe it's peak and can measure the elevation angle. But measuring side is too long and difficult to determine. Therefore surveyor prefer to determine angle than sides