Question: A boy of height 1.5 m is walking away from the base of a lamp post at a speed of 0.8 m/sec. Find the height of the lamp post from the ground, if the shadow of the boy is 2.0 m after walking for 4 sec.
Solution:
Given that,
Height of the boy = 1.5 m
Speed of the boy = 0.8 m/s
Distance travelled by boy in 4 sec = 0.8 × 4 = 3.2 m
Total distance of shadow of boy and distance from base of lamp post = 2.0 + 3.2 = 5.2 m
Let the height of lamp post be 'h' m
According to question,
⇒ 1.5/2.0 = h/5.2
⇒ h = (5.2 × 1.5)/2.0
⇒ h = 3.9 m
So, The height of the lamp post is 3.9 meters.