Question

An airplane is flying at an altitude of 2.7 miles and is 8.3 miles from the runway. Find the angle of depression that the airplane must make to land safely?

Answer 1

18.02°

Explanation:

Formula to find angle of depression is given as

tan y = opposite / adjacent

where y = angle of depression

Where opposite = height or altitude of a person or thing

adjacent = distance

In this question ,

opposite = altitude of the plane = 2.7 miles

adjacent = distance of the plane from the runaway = 8.3 miles

Angle of depression is calculated as

tan y = ( 2.7/8.3)

y = tan⁻¹ ( 2.7÷8.3)

y = 18.02°

Angle of depression that the plane must make to land safely = 18.02°

Answer 2

`18.98\°`

Explanation:

Let

x-----> the angle of depression

we know that

The sine of angle x is equal to divide the altitude (opposite side to angle x) by the distance from the runway (hypotenuse)

`sin(x)=(2.7)/(8.3)`

`x=arcsin((2.7)/(8.3))=18.98\°`