A boat is sailing towards a lighthouse of height 20√3 m at a certain speed. The angle of elevation of the top of the lighthouse changes from 30° to 60° in 10 seconds. What is the time taken (in seconds) by the boat to reach the lighthouse from its initial position?

A boat is sailing towards a lighthouse of height 20√3 m at a certain speed. The angle of elevation of the top of the lighthouse changes from 30° to 60° in 10 seconds. What is the time taken (in seconds) by the boat to reach the lighthouse from its initial position? Correct Answer 15

Let the point where the angle of elevation of the boat is 60°be A

And the point where the angle of elevation of the boat is 30°be B

Also, let the top of lighthouse be O and bottom be C

Given: height of lighthouse = 20√3 m

In ∆AOC

⇒ tan60° = 20√3/BC

⇒ √3 = 20√3/BC

⇒ BC = 20 m

In ∆AOC

⇒ tan30° = 20√3/AC

⇒ 1/√3 = 20√3/AC

⇒ AC = 60 m

Now, time taken to cover AB = 10 sec

So, speed of boat = (60 - 20)/10 = 4m/s

∴ Time taken by the boat to go from A to C = 60/4 = 15 seconds

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