Vertical Distance Formula:
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Vertical distance (VD) is the component of displacement that occurs in the vertical direction. It's calculated from the total distance and the angle of projection or inclination using trigonometric principles.
The calculator uses the vertical distance formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula uses the sine trigonometric function to calculate the vertical component of a vector given the magnitude and angle.
Details: Calculating vertical distance is essential in physics, engineering, sports science, and various practical applications where understanding the vertical component of motion or displacement is required.
Tips: Enter distance in meters and angle in degrees (0-90°). All values must be valid (distance > 0, angle between 0-90 degrees).
Q1: Why use sine function for vertical distance?
A: In right triangle trigonometry, the sine function relates the opposite side (vertical distance) to the hypotenuse (total distance) when the angle is known.
Q2: What angle range is valid for this calculation?
A: The angle should be between 0-90 degrees. At 0° the vertical distance is 0, at 90° it equals the total distance.
Q3: Can this be used for downward angles?
A: Yes, the same formula applies. The result will be positive for upward angles and negative for downward angles if the coordinate system is considered.
Q4: What are some practical applications?
A: Projectile motion analysis, ramp design, sports trajectory calculations, construction planning, and many physics/engineering problems.
Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: The calculation is mathematically precise for the given inputs, assuming ideal conditions and a straight-line distance measurement.