A rocket is fired at sea level and climbs at a constant angle of 85° through a distance of 10,000 feet. Approximate its altitude to the nearest foot.

Question

d ≈ ? ft

Answer 1

Given: Rocket travels 10,000 feet at an angle of 85 degrees.

Find: Altitude to nearest foot.

Solution:

Visualize a right triangle in Q1 with an 85 degree angle at the origin.

The path of the rocket is the hypotenuse = 10,000 feet,

Let d = altitude

Sin(85) = opposite / hypotenuse

Sin(85) = d / 10,000

d = 10,000 * Sin(85)

d = 10,000 * (.99619)

d = 9961.9

d = 9962 feet