Question
Two tracking stations 50 miles apart sight a weather ballon. The angle of the ballon from one of the stations is 45° and from the other is 60°. What is height of the balloon?
Answers
Steve
If the balloon is between the stations
h/x = tan45°
h/(50-x) = tan60°
h/tan45° = 50 - h/tan60°
h = 50 - h/√3
h = 50/(1+1/√3) = 31.7
There is another answer if both stations are on the same side of the balloon.
h/x = tan45°
h/(50-x) = tan60°
h/tan45° = 50 - h/tan60°
h = 50 - h/√3
h = 50/(1+1/√3) = 31.7
There is another answer if both stations are on the same side of the balloon.