Helicopter flies W at constant 222m altitude, constant speed

[zuuberbat]

A helicopter is flying due west over level ground at a constant altitude of 222m and at a constant speed. An intelligent, stationary goat, which is due west of the helicopter, takes two measurements of the angle between the ground and the helicopter. The first measurement the goat makes is 15° and the second measurement, which he makes 1 minute later, is 75°. If the helicopter has not yet passed over the goat, how fast is the helicopter traveling in kilometers per hour? Find exact values in your solution without using a calculator. Clearly show and explain how you derived your solution.

Test soon, don't understand how to do this question, any help would be great. Thanks!

 

[mmm4444bot]

WHO AUTHORS THESE EXERCISES?

... An intelligent, stationary goat, which is due west of the helicopter ... Due west? Really?

That certainly is one intelligent goat! (I wonder how it managed that position.)

... the angle between the ground and the helicopter ... Actually, I believe the exercise author means the angle between the line-of-sight from the ground to the helicopter.

Do you understand what this means?

... If the helicopter has not yet passed over the goat, how fast is the helicopter traveling ... This is dumb, too.

The velocity of the helicopter is CONSTANT. This value is not conditional upon the location of the helicopter, so the conditional phrase above makes no sense , to me.

Subhotosh just pointed out to me (via private message) that the conditional statement is provided so that we understand that both measurements were taken prior to the helicopter passing over the goat versus one before and one after versus both after. Good point; poor authoring.

Hello Zu Über Bat:

Here's an equation for you.

No work or reasoning from you = not much help from me

Please, if you have not already done so, read the post titled "Read Before Posting".

Draw a picture.

See two triangles? Label their heights (using meters).

Find each of their base lengths because these values give the horizontal distance from the goat at the beginning and end of a one-minute interval of elapsed time.

Subtract the smaller distance from the larger. Do you understand what the result represents?

d = r * t

Find r.

Convert r to km/hr.

Clearly show and explain how you derived your solution.

Cheers,

~ Howard I. Noe

MY EDITS: Noted above.

 

[Deleted member 4993]

Re: A problem solving question..

A helicopter is flying due west over level ground at a constant altitude of 222m and at a constant speed. An intelligent, stationary goat, which is due west of the helicopter, takes two measurements of the angle between the ground and the helicopter. The first measurement the goat makes is 15° and the second measurement, which he makes 1 minute later, is 75°. If the helicopter has not yet passed over the goat, how fast is the helicopter traveling in kilometers per hour? Find exact values in your solution without using a calculator. Clearly show and explain how you derived your solution.

Test soon, don't understand how to do this question, any help would be great. Thanks!

Hint

draw a sketch of the situation.

Then use definition of tan angle.

Please show us your work, indicating exactly where you are stuck, so that we know where to begin to help you.