if i were in the sea and visibility was perfect. if a ship coming over the horizon, how far away would it be?
2007-11-24 09:24:11 · 5 answers · asked by chuckguy 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
I agree with Loren S the horizon for an average person is just under 10 miles, but in your example you will see the top of the approaching ship at much greater distance. This is why the old sail powered ships had a guy in a basket on top of the mast with a telescope scanning the horizon for land or other ships.
2007-11-24 22:48:37 · answer #1 · answered by cimra 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For eyes 6' above flat floor (someone 6' 6" tall), the horizon is about 3.3 miles away. Binoculars make no huge difference because the reduce is imposed by the curvature of the earth's floor. Ships had crow's nests in "the olden days" to enlarge the determination of inventive and prescient by getting larger up. for instance, eyes at 30' can see about 7.4 miles.
2016-10-25 00:19:44 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends on a lot of factors. the earth on a level surface curves at 8 " per mile so a six foot tall man on a prairie such as we have in the usa, would be able to see about 9 miles.
2007-11-24 10:04:05 · answer #3 · answered by Loren S 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
roughly 2 miles
2007-11-24 10:02:38 · answer #4 · answered by Patrick H 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
26 miles.
2007-11-24 09:27:34 · answer #5 · answered by ready4sea 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋