Final answer:
The height of the nail above the ground can be described as a cosine function of the angular distance. The equation that describes this relationship is h(θ) = 16cos(θ).
Step-by-step explanation:
The height of the nail above the ground can be described as a cosine function of the angular distance. Since the tire's diameter is 32 inches, the radius is half of the diameter, which is 16 inches. The equation that describes the height of the nail above ground as a function of angular distance is h(θ) = 16cos(θ). Therefore, the correct answer is option b: h(θ) = 16cos(θ).