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.
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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.
