Question 1 of 2707066636ee928f7522a1c519a8e

The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 14 miles and is 26 feet high. If the visibility is 14 miles and your height of eye is 20 feet, at which approximate distance will you sight the light?

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Question 1 of 27070
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Q

The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 14 miles and is 26 feet high. If the visibility is 14 miles and your height of eye is 20 feet, at which approximate distance will you sight the light?

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🔍 Key Concepts

• Nominal range vs. geographic range of a light • How to find geographic range using height of light and height of eye • How meteorological visibility limits what you can actually see

💭 Think About

• First, think about what the 14-mile nominal range means and whether that alone guarantees you will see the light at 14 miles in this situation. • Use the standard method (or table/formula) to find the geographic range based on the light’s height (26 ft) and your height of eye (20 ft). How does this distance compare with 14 miles? • Ask yourself: the maximum distance you can see the light is controlled by two things – the light’s luminous power (nominal range) and the curvature of the earth (geographic range). Which one is smaller here?

✅ Before You Answer

• Be sure you are adding the distance to the horizon from the light and from your eye height, not averaging them. • Check whether the resulting geographic range is more or less than 14 miles; your answer cannot exceed the smaller of these two limits. • Confirm that your final choice is consistent with both the calculated geographic range and the stated 14-mile nominal range.