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158.

Problem 20.63 (RHK)

A plane flies at at constant altitude. The sonic boom reaches an observer on the ground 12.0 s after the plane flies overhead. We have to find the altitude of the plane. The speed of sound is assumed to be .

Solution:             Click For PDF Version

The speed of the plane is

The speed of sound is

Angle of the sonic boom will be

Distance travelled by the plane in 12 s is

Therefore, the altitude of the plane above the observer is