An aircraft is flying at a height of 3400 m above the ground.

Question.

An aircraft is flying at a height of $3400 \mathrm{~m}$ above the ground. If the angle subtended at a ground observation point by the aircraft positions $10.0 \mathrm{~s}$ apart is $30^{\circ}$, what is the speed of the aircraft?


solution:

The positions of the observer and the aircraft are shown in the given figure.

An aircraft is flying at a height of 3400 m above the ground.

Height of the aircraft from ground, OR = 3400 m

Angle subtended between the positions, $\angle \mathrm{POQ}=30^{\circ}$

Time = 10 s

In $\triangle \mathrm{PRO}:$

$\tan 15^{\circ}=\frac{\mathrm{PR}}{\mathrm{OR}}$

$P R=O R \tan 15^{\circ}$

$=3400 \times \tan 15^{\circ}$

$\triangle \mathrm{PRO}$ is similar to $\triangle \mathrm{RQO}$.

$\therefore P R=R Q$

$P Q=P R+R Q$

$=2 \mathrm{PR}=2 \times 3400 \tan 15^{\circ}$

$=6800 \times 0.268=1822.4 \mathrm{~m}$

$\therefore$ Speed of the aircraft $=\frac{1822.4}{10}=182.24 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}$

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