Final answer:
The distance of an aircraft overhead a DME at 36,000 feet can be calculated using the speed of the aircraft and the time it takes for a radio signal to travel between the aircraft and the DME station. The formula Distance = Speed x Time can be used to calculate the distance.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order to calculate the distance of an aircraft overhead a DME at 36,000 feet, we need to know the speed of the aircraft and the time it takes to reach the DME station. DME stands for Distance Measuring Equipment, which is a navigation system used by aircraft to determine their distance from a ground-based station. It works by measuring the time it takes for a radio signal to travel between the aircraft and the DME station, and then converting that time into a distance using the speed of light.
Once we have the time it takes for the radio signal to travel, we can use the formula:
Distance = Speed x Time
For example, if the aircraft is traveling at a speed of 500 knots (which is roughly 575 mph) and it takes 2 minutes for the radio signal to travel to the DME station, we can calculate the distance as:
Distance = 575 mph x (2 minutes / 60 minutes)
Distance = 19.17 miles
Therefore, the aircraft would have a DME distance of approximately 19.17 miles overhead the DME station at 36,000 feet.