How far away is that plane?

[noseall]

at 30 degrees veiwing and with the plane at a height of 30,000 feet the horizontal distance will be 52,000 feet (9.848 miles)

piece of cake. (slur)

 

[gcol]

"How far away is that plane?"
Let's just say, it's a long way off, the plane is moving very fast so you will never know the exact distance it is away. Why can't you just accept that you're not on it and you still need to go to work tomorrow?

 

[^woody^]

Slightly OT, but as we are getting some clear nights for a few days, you may be interested in spotting the Space Shuttle and ISS as it whizzes past.

Find the times and which way to look here[/url]

 

[kevnurse]

If it helps, you should use approx 8 miles a minute as a ball park speed for most high flying jets.

 

[Softus]

and i thought i was gonna get my trig done for me.

You've done the trig, you just haven't pressed the buttons on your calculator.

i thought -

tan 30deg = opposite / adjacent

= height / distance away

= 30,000ft / distance

You thought correctly. Based on those numbers the distance is 9.84 miles.

And what's the curve of the Earth got to do with it?

The plane follows the curve of the Earth, therefore the perpendicular height from you is less than 30,000', so the horizontal distance from you is less that the result of the above calculation.

 

[kirkgas]

i just wish i was on the plane going somewhere nice

 

[tim west]

i just wish i was on the plane going somewhere nice

the plane could be landing back at home

 

[imamartian]

and i thought i was gonna get my trig done for me.

You've done the trig, you just haven't pressed the buttons on your calculator.

i thought -

tan 30deg = opposite / adjacent

= height / distance away

= 30,000ft / distance

You thought correctly. Based on those numbers the distance is 9.84 miles.

And what's the curve of the Earth got to do with it?

The plane follows the curve of the Earth, therefore the perpendicular height from you is less than 30,000', so the horizontal distance from you is less that the result of the above calculation.

Softus, thank-you.

 

[noseall]

at 30 degrees veiwing and with the plane at a height of 30,000 feet the horizontal distance will be 52,000 feet (9.848 miles)

ahem!

 

[imamartian]

i missed your post noseall..