I remember doing a fun experiment in my high school science class with Mr. Lees, where we calculated the height of trees using just a stick and its shadow. It was a simple yet fascinating experiment that taught us the concept of trigonometry and helped us understand how to measure heights of objects using their shadows.
The idea behind the experiment was simple. We needed a stick or rod, measuring tape or ruler, and a sunny area to create a clear shadow of the object whose height we wanted to measure. We placed the stick vertically into the ground at a distance from the tree, measured the length of the shadow cast by the stick, and measured the angle between the stick and the ground using a protractor or angle-finding app on our phones.
Using basic trigonometry, we then set up a proportion to solve for the height of the tree. The height of the tree divided by the length of its shadow was equal to the height of the stick divided by the length of its shadow. We then solved for the height of the tree using basic algebra.
This simple yet effective experiment was my introduction to trigonometry and helped me understand how math can be applied to real-world problems. It also sparked my interest in data science and analytics, which led me to pursue a career in the field.
Today, as a data scientist, I use similar concepts and techniques to solve complex business problems. I use data to identify patterns and trends, and I use statistics and machine learning algorithms to make predictions and recommendations.
Here is a Python script to calculate the height of a tree or anything using the shadow method
import math
# Input the length of the stick, the length of its shadow, and the length of the tree's shadow
stick_length = float(input("Enter the length of the stick (in meters): "))
stick_shadow_length = float(input("Enter the length of the stick's shadow (in meters): "))
tree_shadow_length = float(input("Enter the length of the tree's shadow (in meters): "))
# Calculate the angle between the stick and the ground in radians
angle_radians = math.atan(stick_length / stick_shadow_length)
# Calculate the height of the tree using the angle and the length of the tree's shadow
tree_height = tree_shadow_length * math.tan(angle_radians)
# Output the height of the tree
print(f"The height of the tree is {tree_height:.2f} meters.")
To use the script, simply run it in a Python environment and enter the required inputs when prompted. The program will then calculate the height of the object and output the result to the console. Note that the length inputs should be in meters, and the output height will also be in meters
The simple experiment I did with Mr. Lees all those years ago taught me a valuable lesson about the power of data and how it can be used to solve real-world problems. It was a simple yet profound experience that has stayed with me all these years and continues to inspire me to explore the endless possibilities of data science.