Question

A tower has lost contact with a GPS satellite. The satellite is at 4500 meters over the Earth at a location 2000 meters from the tower. At what angle should the tower point and scan to make contact again? Note the height of the tower is not included. Round answers to the nearest whole degree.The angle of elevation from the top of the tower to the satellite is?

Answer 1

66°

Explanation:

It is given that :

Distance of the satellite from the tower = 2000 m

Height of the satellite above the tower = 4500 m

Therefore the angle of elevation can be found out by :

`$\tan \theta = (4500)/(2000)$`

`$\tan \theta = (9)/(4)$`

`$\tan \theta = 2.25$`

`$\theta = \tan^(-1)(2.25)$`

`$= 66 ^\circ$`

Therefore the tower can make contact with GPS satellite when it pointed at 66° angle.