Finding the Radius of the Earth Assume that it takes 4 sec for the green flash in Exercise...

Finding the Radius of the Earth Assume that it takes 4 sec for the green flash in Exercise 60 to travel from Diane’s eyes at 2 ft to Ed’s eyes at 6 ft. Find the radius of the earth to the nearest mile.

Exercise 60

Catching a Green Flash Ed and Diane are on the beach to observe a green flash. As the very last sliver of the sun sinks into the ocean, refraction bends the final ray of sunlight into a rainbow of colors. The red and orange set first, and the green light or green flash isthe last bit of sunlight seen before sunset.

a. If Diane’s eyes are 2 ft above the ocean, then what is the degree measure of the angle α shown in the figure? Use four decimal places.

b. If Ed’s eyes are 6 ft above the ocean, then what is the angle α for Ed? Use degrees and four decimal places.

c. Diane sees the green flash first. The difference between the two alphas is how far the earth must rotate before Ed sees it. How many seconds (to the nearest tenth) after Diane sees the green flash does Ed see it?