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)\"\" \"About 
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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.
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\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.
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\n" ); document.write( "\"d+=+sqrt%284007%5E2+-+4000%5E2%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "d =~ 236.75 miles
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\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 \"2%2Api%2Ar%2A%28A%2F360%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "=~ 236.47 miles each direction
\n" ); document.write( "x2 --> 472.94 miles
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