SOLUTION: Distance to the Horizon. The radius of the earth is approximately 4,000 mi. Approximate to within 10 mi the distance from the horizon to a plane flying at an altitude of 4 mi.

Question 1068203: Distance to the Horizon. The radius of the earth is approximately 4,000 mi. Approximate to within 10 mi the distance from the horizon to a plane flying at an altitude of 4 mi.
Answer by Boreal(15235) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
R^2+D^2=(R+4)^2, where R=4000 miles. Draw it and there is a right triangle with the legs the Earth's radius and the line of sight from the Earth to the plane. The hypotenuse is from the plane to the center of the Earth.
4000^2+D^2=4004^2
D^2=16032016-16000000=32016
D=sqrt (32016)=178.93 miles, round to 180 miles.
RELATED QUESTIONS
The earth is approximately 92,900,000 mi from the sun. If 1 mi=1.61*10mm to the power of... (answered by josgarithmetic)

A climber is standing at the top of Mount Kazbek, approximately 3.1 mi above sea level.... (answered by jim_thompson5910)

Suppose a space shuttle is orbiting about 180 miles above Earth. What is the distance... (answered by dabanfield)

Mercury's average distance from the sun is 57,910,000 km. The Earth is approximately... (answered by College Student)

Hello there, I just need help figuring this out, I put down 657 mi but apparently I did... (answered by ikleyn)

4. When the moon is exactly half full, the earth, moon, and sun form a right angle (see... (answered by stanbon)

The speed of light is about 186,000 mi/s. The distance from the earth to the sun is about (answered by robertb)

Use scientific notation to find each answer. Round all answers to the proper number of... (answered by TimothyLamb)

Earth�s radius is approximately 4000 mi. About two-thirds of Earth�s surface is covered (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)