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Estimation of Height and Widths
This is quite a useful skill for a Scout during pioneering
projects, camping or going on an adventure trip. After learning all
these skills, he will be able to estimate the height of a tree,
building or even a specific distance. It is also one of the tests
conducted at the King Scouts' Standardization.
Heights
Measuring Heights - Pencil Method or Propotional Method
Have a friend whose height you know stand beside a tree, or tie a
ribbon around the tree at your own height. Step back and hold a
pencil or a stick at arm's length in front of you. With one eye
closed, sight over the stick so that the top of it appears to touch
the ribbon or your friend's head. Place your thumbnail on the stick
where it seems to touch the base of the tree. Now move the stick up
to see how many times this measurement goes into the height of the
tree. Multiply that number by the height of your friend or the
ribbon, and you will know the height of the tree. You can also use
this method to measure buildings, waterfalls, and walls.
Measuring Heights - Tree-felling method
Back away from a flagpole or tree that you want to measure. Hold a
stick upright at arm's length. Sight over the stick so that its tip
appears to touch the top of the pole and your thumb is at its base.
Swing the stick 90 degrees to a horizontal position as if the
flagpole were falling. Keep your thumb at the base of the pole, and
notice where the tip of the stick seems to touch the ground. Pace
the distance from that point to the base of the flagpole to get its
height.
Measuring Heights - Shadow Method
The method can
be used only if the sun is able to cast a shadow. First is we measure
the shadow cast by the tree (from the base of the tree to the shadow
of it's top), we label this length as AB. We then measure the shadow
cast by someone or an object of known height, we label this as CD.
We merely solve the unknown height by use of proportions, by
equating:
AB KNOWN AB - Length of the shadow cast by tree
UNKNOWN = ----------------------, where
CD CD - Length of the shadow cast by a known height
Measuring Heights - Inch-to-Foot Method
From the foot of the object you are to
measure pace eleven (11) units, we label it distance AB. A unit can be
any number of paces, so if we say our unit is five paces then 11 units
is equivalent to 55 paces. Place something to mark the point B. From B
take one more unit forward, this is distance BC. From location C lie
down on the ground such that your eyes are close to the ground as
possible. Sight the tree with the marker on B in your line of sight.
Note where your line of sight cuts the marker to the tip of the tree.
That spot is labeled as D. The distance of BD in inches is the
estimated height of tree in feet.
Widths
Measuring Widths - Napoleon Method
Stand on one shore of a stream. Bow your head, chin against your
chest. Hold your hand to your forehead in a salute. Move your hand
down until the front edge of it seems to touch the opposite shore.
Without changing the position of your hand, make a quarter turn.
Notice the point at which the edge of your hand seems to touch the
near shore. Pace off the distance to that point, and you will know
the width of the river. Napoleon might have used the brim of this
hat instead of his hand. If you are wearing a cap with a visor, so
can you.
Measuring Widths - Stride or Step Method
Select an
object on the opposite side of the river, such as a tree and we mark
it as A. Mark the point directly in front of the object on the
opposite side of the river, mark it as point B. Take at least 50 paces
to point C, so as to form line BC. Note that line BC should be
perpendicular to line AB. Mark point C with a stick or another person.
Again, pace another distance to point D. The distance CD is half the
distance of BC. From point D, pace another distance to point E. Line
DE is parallel to line AB. Point E is marked on a location wherein you
can see point C forming a straight line with point A. Meaning when you
look at the stick on point C. it somewhat blocks your line of sight to
point A. The distance AB is twice the distance DE. AB = DE x 2. We can
alter the method a bit. Instead of having distance CD half the
distance between BC, we can make it equal to each other. Do the same
method to find point E. Using this alternative, AB=DE. This is more
accurate.
Measuring Widths - Compass Method
Locate an object on the other side of a
river. Stand on your side and point the direction-of-travel arrow
towards the object. Align the magnetic needle to 45O indicator of the
compass housing. Pace the line BC while pointing the
direction-of-travel arrow towards the object all the time. Point C is
marked when the compass is oriented (magnetic needle is directly above
the orienteering arrow). The distance BC is a rough estimate of
distance AC. You have just formed a 45-45-90 triangle, which has two
of its sides equal to each other.
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