A parabolic microphone used on the sidelines of a professional football game uses a reflective dish 16 in. wide and 4 in. deep. How far from the bottom of the dish should the microphone be placed?
To determine the distance from the bottom of the dish to place the microphone, we need to find the focal point of the parabolic dish.
The focal length of a parabolic dish is equal to one-fourth of its diameter.
Given that the reflective dish is 16 inches wide, the diameter of the dish is 16 inches.
Therefore, the focal length of the parabolic dish is 16 inches / 4 = 4 inches.
Hence, the microphone should be placed 4 inches from the bottom of the dish.