Curvature and

Refraction
Prepared by:
ENGR. RANDY G. POLICARPIO
Curvature and Refraction

Problem 1:
An observer standing on shore can just see the top of a
lighthouse 16.5 km away. If the eye height of the observer above sea
level is 1.735 m, determine the height of the lighthouse above sea
level. Neglect the effect of the waves.
Curvature and Refraction
𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

𝑘1 𝑘2

𝑘 = 16.5 𝑘𝑚
𝑠𝑒𝑎 𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙
Curvature and Refraction
Given:
ℎ1 = 1.735 𝑚
𝑘 = 16.5 𝑘𝑚
Required:
ℎ2 =?
Solution:
1. Solve for 𝑘1
ℎ1 = 0.0675 𝑘1 2

1.735𝑚
𝑘1 =
0.0675
𝑘1 = 5.07 𝑘𝑚
Curvature and Refraction
2. Solve for 𝑘2
𝑘 = 𝑘1 + 𝑘2
𝑘2 = 16.5𝑘𝑚 − 5.07𝑘𝑚
𝑘2 = 11.43 𝑘𝑚
3. Solve for the height of the lighthouse, ℎ2
ℎ2 = 0.0675 𝑘2 2
ℎ2 = 0.0675 11.43 𝑘𝑚 2
ℎ2 = 8.82 𝑚
Curvature and Refraction

Problem 2:
An 8 meter triangulation observation tower is on top of ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝐵
938 meter above sea level. What would be the height of equal tower to
be erected at ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝐴 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝐶 located 15 km from ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝐵
respectively? If the elevation at ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝐴 is 975 meter and that of 𝐻𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝐶 is
915 meter in order that ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝐴, 𝐵 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶 will be intervisible.
Curvature and Refraction
𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

8𝑚 𝐵

938 𝑚

𝑠𝑒𝑎 𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙

𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒
Curvature and Refraction
Given:
𝑘1 = 𝑘2 = 15 𝑘𝑚
Required:
𝑥 =? ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑡 𝐴 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶
Solution:
1. Solve for ℎ1 , ℎ2
ℎ1 = ℎ2 = 0.0675 15 𝑘𝑚 2 = 15.19 𝑚
2. Solve for ℎ3 , ℎ4
ℎ3 = 975𝑚 − 15.19𝑚 = 959.81 𝑚
ℎ4 = 915𝑚 − 15.19𝑚 = 899.81 𝑚
 Curvature and Refraction

𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
Using similarity of triangles:

ℎ3 + 𝑥 − ℎ4 + 𝑥 = ℎ3 − ℎ4 = 60𝑚
946 − (ℎ4 + 𝑥) = 46.19 𝑚 − 𝑥 46.19𝑚−𝑥 60𝑚
= 30𝑘𝑚
15𝑘𝑚

15𝑘𝑚
ℎ3 + 𝑥 938m+8𝑚 = 946𝑚 𝑥 = 46.19𝑚 − 30𝑘𝑚 60𝑚
ℎ4 + 𝑥

𝑥 = 16.19 𝑚

15 𝑘𝑚 15 𝑘𝑚
𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒