Question

A balloon is rising vertically at the rate of 12 feet per second; at the same time, it is being blown horizontally by a wind of 18 feet per second. Find the angle its path makes with the horizontal.

Answer 1

Angle is 33.82°

Explanation:

It is given that, from the figure below,

Vertical distance = 12 feet

Horizontal distance = 18 feet.

Using the trigonometric rule for the right triangles, we have,

`\tan x=(perpendicular)/(base)`

i.e.
`\tan x=(12)/(18)`

i.e.
`\tan x=0.67`

i.e.
`x=\arctan 0.67`

i.e. x= 33.82°

Thus, the angle made by the path with the horizontal is 33.82°.