Shuttle Height

magentarita · #1 $Old$ January 6th, 2009, 07:33 AM

An observer 2.5 miles from the launch pad of a space shuttle launch measures the angle of elevation to the base of the shuttle 25 degrees soon after lift-off. How high is the shuttle at that instant?

(Assume the shuttle is still moving vertically.)

mathaddict · #2 $Old$ January 6th, 2009, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magentarita $View Post$

An observer 2.5 miles from the launch pad of a space shuttle launch measures the angle of elevation to the base of the shuttle 25 degrees soon after lift-off. How high is the shuttle at that instant?

(Assume the shuttle is still moving vertically.)

Try apply some basic trigonometry . Perhaps draw a triangle diagram to make it easier .

The observer is 2.5 miles away and the angle of elevation from the launch pad to the shuttle's base is 25 degree.

magentarita · #3 $Old$ January 6th, 2009, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mathaddict $View Post$

Try apply some basic trigonometry . Perhaps draw a triangle diagram to make it easier .

The observer is 2.5 miles away and the angle of elevation from the launch pad to the shuttle's base is 25 degree.

Is the set up:

tan25 = height of shuttle/2.5 miles?

mathaddict · #4 $Old$ January 6th, 2009, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magentarita $View Post$

Is the set up:

tan25 = height of shuttle/2.5 miles?

Yes ..