Find the maximum latitude from which it can be seen from earth.
2007-01-27 18:45:14 · 4 answers · asked by Pritam 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
There is a right-angled triangle with a hypotenuse of 36000 + 6378 = 42378, and a short side of 6378. Their ratio 0.1505 is the cosine of 81.34 degrees, the latitude of the right-angled vertex. At that latitude, a satellite in equatorial orbit at the stated height would be forever on the horizon.
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2007-01-28 05:44:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a question in trigonometry. Let R be the radius of the Earth, which I believe is in the range of 6000 km. Then if you draw a line from the satellite that is tangent to the Earth, it will hit a point that is perpendicular to a radial line segment. So you wind up with a right triangle, whose hypoteneuse is 36000 + R and one of whose other sides is R. You're looking for the angle whose cosine is R divided by 36000 + R. (The arccosine function on your calculator may come in handy.)
2007-01-28 03:01:05 · answer #2 · answered by Curt Monash 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
0 degrees latitude obviously and it depends which longitude it is above!
2007-01-28 09:19:21 · answer #3 · answered by Heady 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
assuming the rocket is in 90 degree u can use differentation to find the answer
2007-01-28 03:19:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋