116,408 views
37 votes
37 votes
Can someone please explain to me how to solve the problem? I need to know how to complete it more than just the answer. Thanks!

A plane is flying at an altitude of 13,000 ​ft, where the temperature is -2 degrees F. The nearby​ airport, at an altitude of 2,000​ft, is reporting precipitation. If the temperature increases 2.1 degrees F for every​ 1000-ft decrease in​ altitude, will the precipitation at the airport be rain or​ snow? Assume that rain changes to snow at 32 degrees F.

Is the precipitation at the airport rain or​ snow?

User Wayne See
by
3.1k points

1 Answer

17 votes
17 votes

9514 1404 393

Answer:

snow

Explanation:

The relationship between temperature and altitude is given as ...

T = -2 +((13000 -a)/1000)×2.1

We can put a=2000 into this equation to find the temperature at that altitude.

T = -2 +((13000 -2000)/1000)×2.1 = -2 +11(2.1) = -2 +23.1 = 21.1

The airport temperature of 21.1 °F is below 32 °F, so we expect the precipitation to be snow.

User Rahul Mane
by
3.0k points