Your formula is wrong. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horizon
There should be a square root sign for the h, or possibly for the 1.6 h.
That source says:
d = 1.323 sqrt(h)
when h is in feet and d is in miles.
Recheck your problem statement.
Once you, "plug in" d = 19.5 miles and calculate h.
The distance d in miles that can be seen on the surface of the ocean is given by d = 1.6 h, where h
is the height in feet above the surface. How high (to the nearest foot) would a platform have to be to
see a distance of 19.5 miles?
2 answers
I think you meant √(1.6h).
So you have
√(1.6h) = 19.5
square both sides
1.6h = 19.5^2=380.25
h=237.6'
or 238' to the nearest foot.
So you have
√(1.6h) = 19.5
square both sides
1.6h = 19.5^2=380.25
h=237.6'
or 238' to the nearest foot.
1 answer