If you are 45 ft in the air, how far can you see?

The correct answer is based on the understanding of how the curvature of the Earth affects visibility. When you are elevated above sea level, your line of sight extends further due to the Earth's curvature.

At 45 feet in height, the distance you can see to the horizon can be roughly estimated using the formula: Distance (in nautical miles) = the square root of Height (in feet) x 1.5. Applying this formula:

• The square root of 45 is approximately 6.7.
• Multiplying this by 1.5 gives around 10.05 nautical miles.

Since a nautical mile is slightly longer than a regular mile, this calculation suggests visibility can be somewhere between 6 and 7 miles.

Given the choices, the most accurate answer in context would be “approximately 7 miles,” aligning closely with the derived distance. The reference to using a geographic reference sheet would not directly provide a numerical estimate, which is why that option is less indicative of the distance visible from that height. Thus, understanding the geometric relationship of height and distance to the horizon is essential for assessing visibility in this scenario.