Question

Satellite photography makes it possible to measure the diameter of a hurricane, using similar figures. The illustration shows that a camera’s aperture YX is 35 mm and its focal length WZ is 50 mm. The satellite W holding the camera is 150 miles above the hurricane's center at C. Why is triangle XYZ similar to triangle ABZ?

Answer 1

Hello,

1) let's calulate |CZ|
1 mile=1.60934 km
|CZ|=150-0.05*1.60935/1000=149.999919525
As the ratio bethween mile and mm is conserved up and down
d/35=149.99919525/50
==>d=104.99994367275 (miles)