Astronaut and Laser

[Luka9511]

An astronaut puts to test your new laser instrument on the moon. This laser instrument can measure circular surfaces. The astronaut holds the laser above the moon’s surface and sends the beam all the way around the moon at its equator.

Where the astronaut held the laser, the beam traveled 15 feet longer than the outer circular distance of the moon (its circumference). How high up off the ground was the astronaut holding the laser instrument? Did the astronaut use the instrument correctly? (The laser used correctly is held at least 2 feet above the ground.)

 

[mmm4444bot]

Hello. What have you started so far? Did you draw a picture of two concentric circles? Have you calculated the circumference of the moon at the equator? If so, what radius did you use? What was your result? If not, then do those first.

Visualize a string wrapped snug against the equator. It has the same length as the moon's circumference. If that string is evenly raised above the surface, then it will need to be stretched to make it all the way around. How high would the string be, if it were stretched 15 feet longer?

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