Question

Ashley is flying a plane that has to reach a gradient of 360m/km in order to take off and not crash. Her goal is to travel from sea level to an elevation of 1000m at a distance of 2.8km. Calculate the gradient of Ashley’s flight and determine if she will crash!

Answer 1

Answer:

She is likely to crash because her flight gradient is lesser than the flight gradient required gradient to avoid crashing

Explanation:

The given parameters are;

The required gradient of the plane Ashley is flying needs to reach in order to take off and not crash = 360 m/km

The initial elevation of the plane Ashley is flying = Sea level = 0 m

The goal Ashley intends to make = Elevation of 1000 m at 2.8 km. distance

∴ Ashley's goal = Traveling from sea level to 1000 m at 2.8 km horizontal distance

We have;

The gradient  = Rate of change of elevation/(Horizontal distance)

Therefore;

The gradient of Ashley's flight = (1000 - 0)/(2.8 - 0) = 357.143 m/km

The gradient of Ashley's flight ≈ 357.143 m/km which is lesser than the required 360 m/km in order to take off and not crash, therefore, she will crash.