- #1
fizixfan
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Homework Statement
If I am standing on the ocean shore, and my eye level is 6 feet above sea level, how far above the horizon would an island appear that is 15 miles away and whose highest point is 200 feet above sea level (assuming the earth’s diameter is 3,960 miles?) In other words, how many feet would the island extend above my line of sight, i.e., I would see the top “x” feet of the island, not accounting for atmospheric distortion or diffraction.
Homework Equations
the calculation for "horizon drop”
h = (SQRT(d^2+R^2)-R) where
h = horizon drop
R = Radius of Earth
d = Distance from Observer
The Attempt at a Solution
h = ((SQRT(d1^2+R^2)-R))-((SQRT(d2^2+R^2)-R))-