Speed of a plane given distance and time equation.

[brandy]

an aircraft at an altitude of 10 000 m is flying at a constant speed on a line that will take it directly over an observer on the ground. if the observer notes that the angle of elevation o the aircraft is 60 degrees and is increasing at a rate of 1 degree per second find the speed of the plane in metres per second.

i got the formula for the equation as 10 000/(Tan (a+x))=m
a=angle x=seconds m=metres across.

i can't think why it would be incorrect. the velocity is metres per second so delta M over Delta T or Delta y over Delta x (the gradient function)
that didnt get me anywhere because i didnt know wat to sub in for the equation

then i simply took an m value and a x value and used the average velocity formula but as expected it changed.

plllllllllleeeassse i know the answer is staring me right in the face, I am just temporaily blind. help me.

 

[tiny-tim]

Hi brandy!

(have a delta: ∆ )

i got the formula for the equation as 10 000/(Tan (a+x))=m
a=angle x=seconds m=metres across.

hmm … your notation is horrible, and you've left out half of the rhs …

you should have ∆x = v ∆t = 10 000/(Tan (60º + ∆t)) - 10 000/(Tan (60º))