aChordate said:Homework Statement
The light in a lighthouse sits 55 m above sea level. The beam of light strikes the water
at an angle of incidence of 630 and illuminates a shipwreck on the ocean floor. If the
water is 17 m deep, what is the horizontal distance from the lighthouse to the shipwreck?
Homework Equations
tan=opp/adj
n1sinθ1=n2sinθ2
The Attempt at a Solution
tan63=x/55m
x=110m
(1.0)sin(63°)=(1.33)sinθ2
θ2=42
tan(42)=opp/17m
opp=15m
15+110m=125m
"Finding distance by angle of incident" is a process used in scientific fields, such as physics and astronomy, to determine the distance of an object from a known point by measuring the angle of incidence, or the angle at which light or other radiation hits the object.
The angle of incidence is typically measured using specialized instruments, such as a theodolite or a telescope with a protractor. In some cases, it can also be estimated using basic trigonometry principles and a known distance.
The accuracy of distance measurements using the angle of incidence can be affected by several factors, including atmospheric conditions, instrument precision, and human error. It is important to take these factors into consideration and use multiple measurements to improve accuracy.
The distance can be calculated by using the basic trigonometric formula: distance = tangent(angle of incidence) x height of the known point. This formula can be modified for different scenarios, such as when the angle of incidence is measured from a moving object.
"Finding distance by angle of incidence" has many practical applications, including surveying and mapping land, determining the distance of celestial objects in astronomy, and measuring the height of tall structures, such as buildings and trees. It is also used in navigation and geolocation systems, such as GPS.