The Light List shows that a navigational...

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Question 1 of 2066636ee928f7522a1c519aad

The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 5 miles and a height above water of 21 feet (6.4 meters). Your height of eye is 32 feet (9.8 meters) and the visibility is 1.0 mile. At what approximate range will you first sight the light?

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🔍 Key Concepts

• Nominal range vs. geographic range vs. luminous range • Effect of meteorological visibility on how far a light can be seen • Using the shortest limiting range when more than one factor is given

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: Does the nominal range (5 miles) matter if the visibility is only 1.0 mile? Which factor limits you first: the light’s power, the curvature of the Earth, or the weather? • Think about how to estimate the geographic range from the heights of eye (observer and light). Then compare that to the visibility of 1.0 mile. • Which distance should you actually use: the geographic range, the nominal range, or the visibility range? Which one gives the smallest value?

✅ Before You Answer

• Be clear on the definition of nominal range (standard visibility of 10 nautical miles) and that it does NOT account for poor visibility like fog or haze. • Verify that geographic range depends only on heights of the light and observer and Earth’s curvature, not on weather. • Before choosing, identify which of the three is smallest: nominal range, geographic range, or visibility-limited range—and remember you can’t see farther than the most restrictive limit.

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