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You give tours on the Great Lakes and talk about points of interest. A lighthouse typically has 2 beacons that rotate together—but not necessarily facing opposite directions. In that way, it can be a shorter time between the first and second flashes than between the second flash and the third flash (when the first beacon comes around for the second time). One way of identifying which lighthouse you are looking at is to find the ratio of the short time between flashes to the long time between flashes. If the beacons are set 120° apart along the rotation, as shown below, what is this ratio?

A diagram of a lighthouse beacon. The lighthouse is circular. Beacon 1 and 2 are 120 degrees apart.

A.1:120
B.120:1
C.1:3
D.3:1
E.1:2

Answer 1

In a lighthouse with 120° spacing between beacons, the ratio of time between the first and second flashes to the second and third flashes is 1:120. This, the correct answer is A.

In a lighthouse with two beacons positioned 120° apart along the rotation, the timing between flashes is crucial for identification. The rotation allows for a shorter time between the first and second flashes compared to the interval between the second flash and the third flash when the first beacon completes its rotation.

To calculate this ratio, we consider that the beacons are spaced 120° apart in the circular lighthouse. As the rotation progresses, the first beacon comes back into alignment sooner than the second beacon. The ratio of the short time between flashes to the long time between flashes is expressed as 1:120. This indicates that the time it takes for the first beacon to complete a rotation and align for the second flash is significantly shorter than the time it takes for the second beacon to complete a rotation and align for the third flash.

This ratio signifies the unique temporal relationship between the consecutive flashes, serving as a distinctive characteristic for identifying lighthouses with such beacon configurations on the Great Lakes or any other maritime location.

So, the correct answer is: A. 1:120.

Complete question below:

What is the ratio of the time between the first and second flashes to the time between the second flash and the third flash in a lighthouse with two beacons set 120° apart along the rotation?

A. 1:120

B. 120:1

C. 1:3

D. 3:1

E. 1:2