Question

An airplane spots the floating debris at an angle of depression of 15 degrees. If the plane is at an altitude of 3000. Feet, what is the horizontal distance before they fly over it?

Answer 1

Answer:

11196.15 km

Step-by-step explanation:

Consider the attached diagram

If the Airplane is at point A and the floating debris at point C, we want to determine the horizontal distance |AB| before they fly over it.

Using trigonometry

$Tan \alpha =\frac{Opposite}{adjacent} \\Tan 15 =\frac{3000}{|AB|}$

Cross multiply

|AB|X Tan 15 =3000

|AB| = $\frac{3000}{Tan 15}$ =11196.15 km

Therefore, the horizontal distance |AB| before they fly over it is 11196.15 km