Answer:
The length of his shadow is decreasing at a rate of 1.13 m/s
Explanation:
The ray of light hitting the ground forms a right angled triangle of height H, which is the height of the building and width, D which is the distance of the tip of the shadow from the building.
Also, the height of the man, h which is parallel to H forms a right-angled triangle of width, L which is the length of the shadow.
By similar triangles,
H/D = h/L
L = hD/H
Also, when the man is 4 m from the building, the length of his shadow is L = D - 4
So, D - 4 = hD/H
H(D - 4) = hD
H = hD/(D - 4)
Since h = 2 m and D = 12 m,
H = 2 m × 12 m/(12 m - 4 m)
H = 24 m²/8 m
H = 3 m
Since L = hD/H
and h and H are constant, differentiating L with respect to time, we have
dL/dt = d(hD/H)/dt
dL/dt = h(dD/dt)/H
Now dD/dt = velocity(speed) of man = -1.7 m/s ( negative since he is moving towards the building in the negative x - direction)
Since h = 2 m and H = 3 m,
dL/dt = h(dD/dt)/H
dL/dt = 2 m(-1.7 m/s)/3 m
dL/dt = -3.4/3 m/s
dL/dt = -1.13 m/s
So, the length of his shadow is decreasing at a rate of 1.13 m/s
