Question

The Johnstown Inclined Plane in Pennsylvania is one of the longest and steepest hoists in the world. The railway cars travel a distance of 896.5 feet at an angle of approximately 35.4°, rising to a height of 1693.5 feet above sea level. (see figure in the website). (Round your answers to two decimal places.)
www.webassign.net/larpcalclim2/4-3-088.gif

(a) Find the vertical rise of the inclined plane. (in feet)
(b) Find the elevation of the lower end of the inclined plane.(in feet)
(c)The cars move up the mountain at a rate of 300 feet per minute. Find the rate at which they rise vertically. (in ft/min)

Answer 1

What answer do you think it is? I'm not going to give you the answer but ill check it or give you some info.

Answer 2

a) h = 896.5sin35.4 = 519.33 ft
b) 1693.5 - 519.33 = 1174.17 ft
c) 300sin35.4 = 173.80 ft/min

is this correct??

Answer 3

The height is found via
h/896.5 = sin 35.4°
h = 519.3 ft

The lower end's elevation is just 1693.5-h, right?

hint: feet/min means divide rise by time.

Answer 4

hey oobleck, thanks, is my answers correct?

Answer 5

looks good to me

Answer 6

I agree with all of those. Make sure you know how to work them out in case you have other questions like this.