We are doing the conic sections. I have absolutely no idea what toeven do with t

Question

We are doing the conic sections. I have absolutely no idea what toeven do with this problem but I assume it relates to either ahyperbola or ellipse?
Suppose that 2 people standing 1 mile apart both see a flashof lightning. After a period of time, the first person standing atpoint A hears the thunder. 2 seconds later, the second personstanding at point B hears the thunder. If the person at point B isdue west of the person at point A and if lightning is known tooccur due north of the person standing at point A, where did thelightning strike?
Suppose that 2 people standing 1 mile apart both see a flashof lightning. After a period of time, the first person standing atpoint A hears the thunder. 2 seconds later, the second personstanding at point B hears the thunder. If the person at point B isdue west of the person at point A and if lightning is known tooccur due north of the person standing at point A, where did thelightning strike?

Explanation / Answer

I can't tell that this has anything to do with conics; it has to dowith triangles. person B is one mile due west of person A. The lightningstruck some distance due north of A, at point C. Therefore, you have a triangle:         C         /|     / |     /    | /      | B ----A You need to know the speed of sound (1,125 ft/s, or 0.213miles/sec) You know that B heard the thunder 2 seconds later than A. Therefore, B is 0.426 miles further away from C than A is. Thus BC = AC + 0.426mi. You know AB = 1 mile. You have a right triangle, so AB2 + AC2 =BC2 1 + AC2 = (AC + 0.426)2 1 + AC2 = AC2 + 0.852AC + 0.181476 1 - 0.181476 = 0.852AC 0.818524 = 0.852AC AC = 0.9607 miles Therefore, the lightning struck 0.9607 miles due north from personA BC = AC + 0.426mi. = 0.9607 + 0.426 miles, or 1.3867miles Therefore, the lightning struck 1.3867 miles northeast fromperson B

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse W
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.