Module 2 Trigonometry Extended Response SAC Flying High

For the purposes of this SAC, the curvature of the earth has been taken into account and lines can be considered as
straight. Due to the curvature of the earth some diagrams do not appear to be drawn to scale.
This SAC explores flights between and within Australia and New Zealand made by two airlines Gondwana Air and Haka
Airlines.
Question 1
A plane flies from Melbourne to Hobart to Auckland and back to Melbourne as shown in the diagram below. The plane
flies in a straight line on each leg of the journey and turns through an angle of 90 at Hobart.

a) The distance between Melbourne and Hobart is 601 km to the nearest km and from Hobart to Auckland the
distance is 2427 km to the nearest km. Show that the direct distance from Auckland to Melbourne is 2500 km to the
nearest km. (3 marks)

b) Calculate the angle between the flight in to Auckland and the flight out of Auckland correct to one decimal
place. (2 marks)

Question 2
Thylacine Airport is located in Tasmania. A map of the airport is shown below:

a) Calculate the length of the edge labelled x km correct to one decimal place. (2 marks)

b) Calculate the land area in square kilometres of the airport. Give your answer correct to two decimal places.
(3 marks)

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c) Convert your answer to hectares. (1 mark)

Thylacine Airport is undergoing an upgrade on the existing site, so a scale model of the site has been constructed. The
scale model uses a 1:5000 scale.
d) Calculate the length of the side that is 13.2 km on the scale model in centimetres. (2 marks)
13.2 100 000 = 1 320 000 cm
1 320 000 5000 = 264 cm

e) Calculate the area of the scale model in metres squared correct to 2 decimal places. (2 marks)
96.42 1 000 000 = 96 420 000 m
2
96 420 000 5000
2
= 3.8568 3.86 m
2


The control tower at Thylacine Airport is cylindrical with a radius of 35 metres and a height of 120 metres as shown
below:

f) Calculate the volume of the control tower at Thylacine Airport in cubic metres correct to the nearest whole
metre. (2 marks)

g) Calculate the volume of the control tower in the scale model in cubic centimetres correct to 2 decimal places.
(3 marks)

Question 3
A plane flies over a hiker at a height of 5 kilometres above his head. The hiker first sees the plane at point A when it is
on an angle of elevation of 75. A short time later the plane is at an angle of elevation of 48. The plane has maintained
its altitude during this time.

a) Calculate the horizontal distance of the plane from the hiker when it is at point A, correct to the nearest metre.
(2 marks)

b) Calculate the distance flown between points A and B correct to the nearest metre. (2 marks)

c) When the plane is at point B the pilot looks down at a monument directly in line with the plane and the hiker.
The monument rises 180 metres above the hikers head. If the pilot is looking down on an angle of elevation of 32, how
far is the monument horizontally from the hiker (correct to the nearest metre)? (2 marks)

Total distance is 7714 + 4502 = 12216 m

Question 4
Gondwana Airlines flies direct from Melbourne to Sydney to Brisbane, then returning to Melbourne, as shown in the
diagram below.

The distance flown from Melbourne to Sydney is 703 km, from Sydney to Brisbane the distance flown is 742 km and the
distance from Brisbane to Melbourne is 1373 km.
a) Given the distances as stated, use the cosine rule to show that the angle between the flight into Sydney and the
flight out of Sydney is 143.7 correct to one decimal place. (2 marks)

b) Calculate the size of the angle between the flight into Brisbane and the flight out of Brisbane using the sine rule.
Demonstrate the equation that you used to obtain your answer. Give your answer correct to one decimal place.
(2 marks)

c) Use any appropriate method calculate the size of the remaining angle in the triangle correct to the nearest
degree. (1 mark)
180 17.5 143.7 = 18.8


Question 5
Haka Airlines flies daily from Wellington to Christchurch and return. The bearing that the plane needs to take from
Christchurch to Wellington is 034.
a) Draw a diagram showing the relative position of Wellington and Christchurch and any relevant angles. (1 mark)


b) What is the bearing from Wellington to Christchurch? (2 marks)
180 +34 = 214

c) The direct flight between Wellington and Christchurch is 307 km. How far north of Christchurch is Wellington?
Give your answer correct to the nearest kilometre. (2 marks)

Question 6
Gondwana Airlines flies from Sydney to Auckland and then from Auckland to Christchurch. The plane flies 2167 km on a
bearing of 105 to get to Auckland and then flies 767 km on a bearing of 192 to get to Christchurch.
a) Draw a diagram representing these flights, showing all angles. (1 mark)

b) Use this information to calculate the distance from Sydney to Christchurch, correct to the nearest kilometre.
(3 marks)

c) What bearing would the plane need to take to return to Sydney from Christchurch? (3 marks)

Angle ACS is 67.9 68
Bearing is 360 (68 12) = 304



Question 7
The Tasman Sea can be considered to be roughly bounded by the cities of Hobart, Brisbane, Auckland and Christchurch.
This is shown in the diagram below along with the distances between these cities.

The bearing from Hobart to Brisbane is 018 and the bearing from Hobart to Christchurch is 100. Use this information
to estimate the area of the Tasman Sea to the nearest 1000 square kilometres. (5 marks)

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