2 degrees for 3 miles results in how many feet descended?

2 degrees for 3 miles results in how many feet descended?

• A. 300 ft
• B. 600 ft
• C. 900 ft
• D. 1200 ft

Answer: (B)

Descent angle and vertical change relate through the tangent: vertical drop = horizontal distance × tan(angle). Here the plane descends 2 degrees over a horizontal span of 3 miles, so the drop is 3 miles × tan(2°). With tan(2°) ≈ 0.03492, the drop in miles is about 0.10476 miles. Converting to feet (1 mile = 5280 ft) gives roughly 0.10476 × 5280 ≈ 553 ft. That’s about 550 ft, which is closest to 600 ft among the given options. So the descent is about 600 feet.

Descent angle and vertical change relate through the tangent: vertical drop = horizontal distance × tan(angle). Here the plane descends 2 degrees over a horizontal span of 3 miles, so the drop is 3 miles × tan(2°). With tan(2°) ≈ 0.03492, the drop in miles is about 0.10476 miles. Converting to feet (1 mile = 5280 ft) gives roughly 0.10476 × 5280 ≈ 553 ft. That’s about 550 ft, which is closest to 600 ft among the given options. So the descent is about 600 feet.