How Do You Solve Trigonometry Problems Involving Satellites and Angles?

[pointintime]

Trig Problems please help please!

Homework Statement

A surveillance satellite circles Earht at a height of h miles above the surface. Suppose that d is the distance, in miles, on the sruface of Earth that can be observed fromt eh satellite. See the illustration.

(a) Find an equation that related the central angle theta to the height h

(b) Find an equation that relates the observable distance d and angle theta

(c) Find an equation that related d and h

(d) if d is to be 2500 miles, how high must the stellite orbit above Earth?

(e) If the stellite orbits at a height of 300 miles, what distance d on the surface can be observed?

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/6397/84480179.jpg

Homework Equations

Trig ratios

The Attempt at a Solution

I have no idea were to even start there's not enough information or maybe my geometry just sucks because it has been a while sense i took that class... I don't even know were to start

Homework Statement

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/5899/adsfasdfasdfadsfsadf.jpg[/URL] [/PLAIN]
Find the value of the angle theta in degrees rounded to the neartest tenth of a degree.

Homework Equations

trig ratios

The Attempt at a Solution

I have no idea how to even start this problem

 

[pointintime]

by the way the circles touch

 

[berkeman]

Homework Statement

A surveillance satellite circles Earht at a height of h miles above the surface. Suppose that d is the distance, in miles, on the sruface of Earth that can be observed fromt eh satellite. See the illustration.

(a) Find an equation that related the central angle theta to the height h

(b) Find an equation that relates the observable distance d and angle theta

(c) Find an equation that related d and h

(d) if d is to be 2500 miles, how high must the stellite orbit above Earth?

(e) If the stellite orbits at a height of 300 miles, what distance d on the surface can be observed?

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/6397/84480179.jpg

Homework Equations

Trig ratios

The Attempt at a Solution

I have no idea were to even start there's not enough information or maybe my geometry just sucks because it has been a while sense i took that class... I don't even know were to start

Homework Statement

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/5899/adsfasdfasdfadsfsadf.jpg[/URL] [/PLAIN]
Find the value of the angle theta in degrees rounded to the neartest tenth of a degree.

Homework Equations

trig ratios

The Attempt at a Solution

I have no idea how to even start this problem

Well, you should be able to at least do some of the questions. For part a), draw a better diagram with a smaller distance d (more realistic for a satellite). The angle at the top of the h and the angle inside the Earth will be different, but they share the arc length d. You should be able to start writing some equations based on that.