An observer (O) spots a plane (P) taking off from a local airport and flying at a 33° angle horizontal to her line of sight and located directly above a tower (T). The observer also notices a bird (B) circling directly above her. If the distance from the plane(P) to the tower (T) is 7,000 feet, how far is the bird (B) from the plane (P)? Round to the nearest whole number.

Two parallel lines BP and OT with a transversal running through P and O. Dotted red line from P to T and from B to O. Angle POT is 33 degrees. The length of P T is 7000. The length of BP is x.

3,815 feet
5,873 feet
8,343 feet
10,779 feet

1 answer

To find the distance \( BP \) (the distance from the bird \( B \) to the plane \( P \)), we can utilize trigonometry and the spatial relationship between the observer \( O \), the tower \( T \), and the plane \( P \).

  1. Setup the scenario:

    • The observer \( O \) is at ground level.
    • The tower \( T \) is directly below the plane \( P \).
    • The plane \( P \) is at an angle of \( 33^\circ \) from the observer's line of sight to the tower \( T \).
    • The distance from the plane \( P \) to the tower \( T \) (horizontal distance) is \( 7000 \) ft.
  2. Using trigonometry: The angle \( POT \) is \( 33^\circ \), and we can use the cosine function to find the vertical height (height from the tower to the plane) using the formula:

    \[ \text{height from } T \text{ to } P (h) = PT \cdot \tan(33^\circ) \]

    where \( PT \) is the horizontal distance from the tower to the plane (in this case also the distance that is provided, \( 7000 \) ft).

  3. Calculate the height \( h \):

    \[ h = 7000 \cdot \tan(33^\circ) \]

    Now calculating \( \tan(33^\circ) \):

    \[ \tan(33^\circ) \approx 0.6494 \text{ (using a calculator)} \]

    So,

    \[ h = 7000 \cdot 0.6494 \approx 4545.8 \text{ ft} \]

  4. Finding the total distance \( BP \): Since bird \( B \) is directly above the observer \( O \) and at the same ground level, the total distance from \( B \) to \( P \) can be calculated using the Pythagorean theorem:

    \[ BP = \sqrt{PT^2 + h^2} \]

    Where \( PT = 7000 \) ft and \( h \approx 4545.8 \) ft.

    \[ BP = \sqrt{7000^2 + 4545.8^2} \]

    Doing the calculations:

    \[ 7000^2 = 49000000 \] \[ 4545.8^2 \approx 20662664 \] \[ BP = \sqrt{49000000 + 20662664} = \sqrt{69662664} \approx 8366.75273 \]

  5. Rounding to the nearest whole number: Thus,

\[ BP \approx 8367 \text{ ft} \]

However, from the given options, the answer closest to our rounded value is:

8,343 feet.

So, the answer is:

\[ \boxed{8343 \text{ feet}} \]