How Far Can You See? Because of the curvature of the earth, the maximum distance D that you can see from the top of a tall building or from an airplane at height h is given by the function D ( h ) = 2 r h + h 2 where r = 3960 mi is the radius of the earth and D and h are measured in miles. (a) Find D (0.1) and D (0.2). (b) How far can you see from the observation deck of Toronto’s CN Tower, 1135 ft above the ground? (c) Commercial aircraft fly at an altitude of about 7 mi. How far can the pilot see? (d) Find the net change in the value of distance D as h changes from 1135 ft to 7 mi.
How Far Can You See? Because of the curvature of the earth, the maximum distance D that you can see from the top of a tall building or from an airplane at height h is given by the function D ( h ) = 2 r h + h 2 where r = 3960 mi is the radius of the earth and D and h are measured in miles. (a) Find D (0.1) and D (0.2). (b) How far can you see from the observation deck of Toronto’s CN Tower, 1135 ft above the ground? (c) Commercial aircraft fly at an altitude of about 7 mi. How far can the pilot see? (d) Find the net change in the value of distance D as h changes from 1135 ft to 7 mi.
Solution Summary: The author calculates the value of D(h), cD
How Far Can You See? Because of the curvature of the earth, the maximum distance D that you can see from the top of a tall building or from an airplane at height h is given by the function
D
(
h
)
=
2
r
h
+
h
2
where r = 3960 mi is the radius of the earth and D and h are measured in miles.
(a) Find D(0.1) and D(0.2).
(b) How far can you see from the observation deck of Toronto’s CN Tower, 1135 ft above the ground?
(c) Commercial aircraft fly at an altitude of about 7 mi. How far can the pilot see?
(d) Find the net change in the value of distance D as h changes from 1135 ft to 7 mi.
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