Answer:
direct distance = 65,644.07 feet
horizontal distance = 65,154.77 feet
Step-by-step explanation:
The angle of depression is the angle that the airplane does with the horizontal plane.
So, if this angle is 7° and the airplane is at an altitude if 8000 feet, we can find the direct distance and the horizontal distance using the tangent and the sine relations of the angle.
In the tangent of the angle, the opposite side will be the height of the airplane, and the adjacent side will be the horizontal distance (hd), so:
tangent(7) = 8000 / hd
hd = 8000 / tangent(7) = 65,154.77 feet
In the sine of the angle, the opposite side will be the height of the airplane, and the hypotenusa will be the direct distance (d), so:
sine(7) = 8000 / d
d = 8000 / sine(7) = 65,644.07 feet
