Question

4.) The plane continued to descend, but leveled off to an angle of descent of 30 degrees for

approximately 2 miles. How many feet did they drop in altitude (d)?

Answer 1

Plane dropped 6097 feet in altitude.

Explanation:

In the figure attached,

An airplane is at point A from where it continued to descend by 30° for an approximate distance of 2 miles

∠ACB = Angle of descent = 30°

Distance BC = 2 miles

Let the plane dropped the altitude = h miles

Now tan 30° =
`(h)/(2)`

`(1)/(√(3))=(h)/(2)`

`h=(2)/(√(3))`

h = 1.155 miles

h ≈ 1.16 miles

Since 1 mile = 5280 feet

1.15 miles = 5280×1.16 feet

= 6097 feet

Therefore, the plane dropped by 6097 feet vertically.