Final answer:
To calculate the radio horizon, engineers use a formula which considers antenna height, with a common equation being D = 112.88 km x √h. This ensures that when relocating a tower, the signal coverage can still meet the necessary requirements.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the radio horizon before relocating a tower, engineers use a formula that considers the height of the antenna. The radio horizon is the farthest point at which a radio signal can be received from an antenna before it is obscured by the curvature of the Earth. A common formula to calculate the distance to the radio horizon (D) is as follows:
D = 112.88 km x √h
For example, if an antenna is 1 km high (h = 1 km), you would expect the radio horizon to be 112.88 km away. Similarly, for higher elevations, such as a 4 km height, the horizon distance would double to approximately 226 km. It's important to take this into account when moving a broadcasting tower to ensure the signal can still be effectively transmitted over the intended area without obstruction.