A)
The farthest distance a satellite signal can directly reach is the length of the segment tangent to the curve of Earth’s surface. The diagram is not drawn to scale.
A sphere is shown with two points unlabeled. One line lies on the sphere connected through the unlabeled point. A second line lies on the sphere connected through the second unlabeled point. The lines connect at a point labeled satellite.
If the angle formed by the tangent satellite signals is 126°, what is the measure of the intercepted arc on Earth?
(1 point)
To find the measure of the intercepted arc on Earth, we need to first find the measure of the central angle formed by the two tangent satellite signals. Since the central angle is twice the measure of the inscribed angle, the central angle is 2 * 126° = 252°.
Since the central angle is also equal to the measure of the intercepted arc on Earth, the intercepted arc on Earth measures 252°.