/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 7 A radar antenna is tracking a sa... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

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A radar antenna is tracking a satellite orbiting the earth. At a certain time, the radar screen shows the satellite to be \(162 \mathrm{~km}\) away. The radar antenna is pointing upward at an angle of \(62.3^{\circ}\) from the ground. Find the \(x\) and \(y\) components (in \(\mathrm{km}\) ) of the position of the satellite.

Short Answer

Expert verified
\(x \approx 75.62\, \text{km}\) and \(y \approx 142.83\, \text{km}\).

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Problem

We have a right triangle, where the hypotenuse is the distance of the satellite from the radar, which is 162 km. The angle between the ground and the radar beam is 62.3°. We aim to find the horizontal (\(x\)) and vertical (\(y\)) components of this position.
02

Calculate the Horizontal Component

The horizontal component (x) can be found using the cosine function. \( x = \text{{hypotenuse}} \times \cos(\text{{angle}}) = 162 \times \cos(62.3°) \).Calculate \(\cos(62.3°)\) and multiply by 162 to find \(x\).
03

Calculate the Vertical Component

The vertical component (y) can be found using the sine function. \( y = \text{{hypotenuse}} \times \sin(\text{{angle}}) = 162 \times \sin(62.3°) \).Calculate \(\sin(62.3°)\) and multiply by 162 to find \(y\).
04

Solve and Conclude

Calculate the results: \( x = 162 \times \cos(62.3°) \approx 75.62 \) km and \( y = 162 \times \sin(62.3°) \approx 142.83 \) km. These are the horizontal and vertical components, respectively.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Trigonometry Concepts in Action
Trigonometry is a branch of mathematics that studies the relationships between the angles and sides of a triangle. It's beautiful in its simplicity and power. It helps solve many real-world problems, much like the task of finding the position of a satellite.
In trigonometry, two key functions you often encounter are sine (sin) and cosine (cos). These functions make it easier to break down angles into dimensions that we can measure easily.
  • Sine Function: The sine of an angle in a right triangle is the ratio of the opposite side to the hypotenuse. It's useful for finding vertical heights.
  • Cosine Function: The cosine of an angle in a right triangle is the ratio of the adjacent side to the hypotenuse. It's used to determine horizontal distances.
When you apply these functions to a satellite tracking problem, you convert the angle and hypotenuse into the parts you can measure on the earth's surface. Thus, by just knowing one angle and one distance, trigonometry opens up the whole picture!
Understanding Right Triangles
A right triangle is special because one of its angles is exactly 90 degrees. This creates a world of mathematical possibilities, making calculations easier.
In the context of satellite tracking, visualizing the scenario as a right triangle simplifies the calculation of a satellite’s exact position. Here's why:
  • The hypotenuse is the known distance, like 162 km in the exercise. This is the line from the radar to the satellite.
  • The angle, such as 62.3°, is formed by the line from the radar pointing upward and the horizontal ground.
Given these two pieces of information, you can precisely find the other two sides of the triangle. The horizontal and vertical lines (forming the triangle's legs) represent the satellite's position in two-dimensional space.
Satellite Tracking and Component Analysis
Satellite tracking is a fascinating application of real-world data working with mathematical concepts. As satellites orbit Earth, professionals use mathematical models to pinpoint their positions at any given time.
Using trigonometry within the right triangular model, these satellite positions are determined with ease:
  • Horizontal Component: This is the ground distance and can be logged using the cosine function for accuracy.
  • Vertical Component: This is the elevation from the ground, identified using the sine function to access its height.
In a satellite tracking task, breaking down the position into components allows us to clearly see how far the satellite is in each direction. It’s like having a map with 'x' and 'y' coordinates. Trigonometry helps change complex orbital paths into simple, understandable segments for precise tracking and analysis.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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