On a test flight, during the landing of the space shuttle, the ship was 325 feet above the end of the landing strip. It then came in on a constant angle of 7.5 degrees with the landing strip. How far from the end of the landing strip did it first touch ground?

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If I understood well, you only need the basics of trigonometry.

You have a right-angled triangle, with the base as the distance from the end of the landing strip, the height as 325 ft and a base angle of 7.5. Use the ratio

tan \theta = \frac{OPP}{ADJ}

Post your answer.

I came up with 2469 ft the acft 1st touched down from end of runway.

a=325 ft
B=82.5
A=7.5
b=2469 ft

Not real sure about this.

Hello rp:

I don't know the answer. I know the question is bunk. Oh, I suppose one could assume that the shuttle would continue on its downward arc until it touched down... But, that isn't what it would do in the real world. If it did, it would crash and burn...

What it DOES is continue on its downward arc until it's about 20 feet from the ground... Then the pilot changes the downward arc to one just below being parallel to the runway, causing the shuttle to "float" on a cushion of air for some distance before it finally touches gently down.

Clearly, the landing distance is going to be a lot further than if you just did it your way...

excon

PS> Please, don't write any aviation books.

Of course, it is more complicated than that in real life. The point of a problem like this is to learn basic trig.

325cot(7.5)=2468.62

rpmacs, you are correct.

I came up with 2469 ft the acft 1st touched down from end of runway.

a=325 ft
B=82.5
A=7.5
b=2469 ft

Not real sure about this.

Yep, you got it right! :)

Exy, those are simple problems, lol! If we take all those conditions, people will have a headache before they start reading the problem itself. We start with simple things, then towards tougher things.

EDIT: Just saw your post galactus. :o

if we take all those conditions, people will have a headache before they start reading the problem itself.Hello again,

To me, the solution to a math problem works so much better if the problem is real... I'll bet there is a scientifically correct way to ask the same question. This IS, course, the Math AND Science board.

excon

PS> Is scientifically correct the same as politically correct?

This IS, course, the Math AND Science board.

... which happens to be under the parent forum; education, homework help :)


Is scientifically correct the same as politically correct?

... don't know :confused: