document.write( "Question 600886: A plane is flying at an altitude of about 7 miles above Earth. What is the measure of the arc that represents the part of Earth you can see? The radius of Earth is about 4000 miles. Please help me. I have tried to do this problem many times but the concept confuses me. Thank you. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #379544 by Alan3354(69443)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! A plane is flying at an altitude of about 7 miles above Earth. What is the measure of the arc that represents the part of Earth you can see? The radius of Earth is about 4000 miles. \n" ); document.write( "-------------- \n" ); document.write( "The plane's distance from the Earth's center is 4007 miles. \n" ); document.write( "The distance on the surface of Earth is 4000 miles. \n" ); document.write( "The distance from the plane to the horizon is the 3rd leg of a right triangle. \n" ); document.write( "---------------- \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "d =~ 236.75 miles \n" ); document.write( "---------------------- \n" ); document.write( "The arc on the surface is close to that. \n" ); document.write( "The angle A at Earth's center = arccos(4000/4007) =~ 3.3872 degs \n" ); document.write( "The arc is \n" ); document.write( "=~ 236.47 miles each direction \n" ); document.write( "x2 --> 472.94 miles \n" ); document.write( "--------------------- \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |