Which instrument is best for measuring the angle of small slopes?

Which instrument is best for measuring the angle of small slopes?

• A. Measuring river depth
• B. Measuring the angle of small slopes
• C. Measuring rainfall
• D. Measuring wind speed

Answer: (B)

To measure the angle of a slope, you need an instrument that reads angles relative to the horizontal. A clinometer is designed for this exact task. It lets you sight along a line to the slope and read the angle on a scale, giving a direct measurement of how steep the ground is. For small slopes, a clinometer is precise, easy to use in the field, and quickly gives the angle you need. The other instruments measure different things: river depth gauges how deep the water is, rainfall gauges precipitation, and wind speed meters air movement. They don’t tell you the slope angle, so they aren’t suitable for this purpose.

To measure the angle of a slope, you need an instrument that reads angles relative to the horizontal. A clinometer is designed for this exact task. It lets you sight along a line to the slope and read the angle on a scale, giving a direct measurement of how steep the ground is. For small slopes, a clinometer is precise, easy to use in the field, and quickly gives the angle you need.

The other instruments measure different things: river depth gauges how deep the water is, rainfall gauges precipitation, and wind speed meters air movement. They don’t tell you the slope angle, so they aren’t suitable for this purpose.