To determine how many miles NWA 285 would have traveled while descending from 10,000 feet to 3,000 feet, we can follow these steps:
1. Determine the total change in altitude:
- Initial altitude: 10,000 feet
- Final altitude: 3,000 feet
- Change in altitude = 10,000 feet - 3,000 feet = 7,000 feet
2. Calculate the total time of descent:
- Descent rate: 25 feet per second
- Total descent time = Change in altitude / Descent rate
= 7,000 feet / 25 feet per second
= 280 seconds
3. Convert the speed of the plane from miles per hour to feet per second:
- Speed: 240 miles per hour
- Convert miles per hour to feet per second (1 mile = 5,280 feet, 1 hour = 3,600 seconds)
- Speed in feet per second = 240 miles per hour (5,280 feet / 3,600 seconds)
≈ 352 feet per second
4. Calculate the horizontal distance traveled during the descent:
- Horizontal distance in feet = Speed in feet per second Total descent time
= 352 feet per second * 280 seconds
= 98,560 feet
5. Convert the horizontal distance from feet to miles:
- Horizontal distance in miles = Horizontal distance in feet / 5,280 feet per mile
= 98,560 feet / 5,280 feet per mile
≈ 18.67 miles
Therefore, NWA 285 would have traveled approximately 18.67 miles horizontally while descending from an altitude of 10,000 feet to 3,000 feet.
