- Many times we do studies in the field that require us to record the height of the trees. This is a simple way to accomplish this using representative lengths on a meter stick, and the ratio from them.
MATERIALS:
Meter stick
Ribbon or cord (to wrap around tree)PROCEDURE:
1. Measure from the ground, up the tree trunk, 2.0 meters (you can use a shorter height if necessary). Tie the ribbon or cord around the tree trunk at this height.
2. Move away from the tree to a distance that allows the entire tree, from the base to the top, to fit within the meter stick when held out in front of you.
3. Count the number of centimeters the tree covers (from A to C on the drawing) and the number of centimeters from the ground to the ribbon (from A to B on the drawing). Record these lengths.
Centimeters representing tree = _______ cmCentimeters representing 2.0 meter mark = _______ cm
CALCULATIONS:
4. To calculate the tree height we simply find the ratio of the two heights by dividing the larger number (tree), by the smaller number (ribbon). The answer (ratio) is how many times taller the tree is than the ribbon. We simply multiply that answer by the ribbon height, and we have the height of the tree.
The complete formula is then:Representative tree height (cm)
Representative ribbon height (cm)X 2.0 meters
For example. If the tree covers 80 centimeters on the meter stick, and the ribbon height covers 8 centimeters, the estimated height of the tree is 20 meters.80 cm
8 cmX 2.0 meters = 20 meters
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MEASURING TREE HEIGHT
USING A RATIO
INTRODUCTION: