Homework Help: Physics

Posted by Wykeena on Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 6:33pm.

When driving west toward the Rocky Mountains, you see a peak 3.0 above the horizon. Your GPS gives your current elevation as 1630 , and according to the map, you're 28.5 (horizontally) from the peak.
Find the peak's elevation

Physics - drwls, Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 6:37pm
What are the units of your 28.5 number? And of your elevation? And the 3.0 ? Is the latter degrees?

You can't do physics without including dimensions with your numbers.

This appears to be basically a trig problem. Use the definition of the tangent of an angle.
Physics - Wykeena, Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 6:55pm
Sorry it is 28.5m horizontally from the peak. You see a peak at 3.0 degrees, and the current eleevation is 1630 meters.
Physics - drwls, Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 7:02pm
Elevation (in meters) = 1630 + 28,500 tan 3.0
= 3124 m

Answer this Question

Related Questions

algebra - 2. The equation gives the distance, D, in miles that a person can see ...
Algebra - 2. The equation gives the distance, D, in miles that a person can see ...
ALGEBRA - 2. The equation D=2.2√ h gives the distance, D, in miles ...
ALGEBRA-MAT 117 - The equation D=1.2(SQRT)H gives the distance, D, in miles that...
ALGEBRA (MAT 117) - 2. The D = 1.2(sqrt)h equation gives the distance, D, in ...
algebra - 2. The equation D=1.2 square h gives the distance, D, in miles that a ...
algebra - when you look over an unobstructed landscape or seascape, the distance...
Math - When you look out over an unobstructed landscape or seascape, the ...
algebra - The equation D=1.2times square root h gives the distance, D, in miles ...
civics - -what are the high plains east of the rocky mountains? -what is the ...

For Further Reading

First Name:
School Subject:
Answer: