Answer :
Final answer:
The helicopter was descending at a faster rate than the plane, with a descent rate of 625 feet per minute compared to the plane's 500 feet per minute.
Explanation:
To determine which aircraft was descending at a faster rate, we need to calculate the rate of descent for both the plane and the helicopter. The rate of descent is found by dividing the total distance descended by the time taken to descend.
For the plane:
- Distance descended = 1500 feet
- Time taken = 3 minutes
- Rate of descent = 1500 feet / 3 minutes = 500 feet per minute
For the helicopter:
- Distance descended = 5000 feet
- Time taken = 8 minutes
- Rate of descent = 5000 feet / 8 minutes ≈ 625 feet per minute
Comparing the rates of descent, the helicopter is descending at a rate of 625 feet per minute, while the plane is descending at 500 feet per minute. Therefore, the helicopter was descending at a faster rate than the plane.
