Asked by Dominick
                A light is suspended at a height h above the floor. The illumination at the point P is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the point P to the light and directly proportional to the cosine of the angle θ. How far from the floor should the light be to maximize the illumination at the point P? (Let d = 6 ft.)
            
            
        Answers
                    Answered by
            Damon
            
    I guess d is from below the light to a point on the floor?
If so:
I = k cos T / (h^2+d^2)
where cos T = h/(h^2+d^2)^.5
so
I = k h/(h^2+d^2)^1.5
dI/dh = k [ (h^2+d^2)^1.5 -h(1.5)(h^2+d^2)^.5 (2h) ] / (h^2+d^2)^3
= 0 for extreme
(h^2+d^2)^1.5 = 3 h^2 (h^2+d^2)^.5
(h^2+d^2) = 3 h^2
d^2 = 2 h^2
d = h sqrt 2
h = 6/sqrt 2 = 4.24 ft
    
If so:
I = k cos T / (h^2+d^2)
where cos T = h/(h^2+d^2)^.5
so
I = k h/(h^2+d^2)^1.5
dI/dh = k [ (h^2+d^2)^1.5 -h(1.5)(h^2+d^2)^.5 (2h) ] / (h^2+d^2)^3
= 0 for extreme
(h^2+d^2)^1.5 = 3 h^2 (h^2+d^2)^.5
(h^2+d^2) = 3 h^2
d^2 = 2 h^2
d = h sqrt 2
h = 6/sqrt 2 = 4.24 ft
                                                    There are no AI answers yet. The ability to request AI answers is coming soon!
                                            
                Submit Your Answer
We prioritize human answers over AI answers.
If you are human, and you can answer this question, please submit your answer.