- Identify the altitudes for each vehicle: glider (\(5,000\)), airship (\(3,000\)), sailboat (\(0\)), submarine (\(-1,500\)).
- Order the values from largest to smallest: \(5,000 > 3,000 > 0 > -1,500\).
- Map the values back to the vehicles: glider, airship, sailboat, submarine.
- The correct choice is the last option: \(\boxed{\text{glider, airship, sailboat, submarine}}\).
Explanation
- Analyzing and Comparing Altitudes
To arrange the vehicles in descending order of their altitudes, we must compare their numerical altitude values. The altitude of each vehicle is given as follows:
- Sailboat: \(0\) feet
- Submarine: \(-1,500\) feet
- Glider: \(5,000\) feet
- Airship: \(3,000\) feet
Descending order requires us to arrange these values from the greatest value to the least value. Comparing the numbers, we have \(5,000 > 3,000 > 0 > -1,500\).
- Ordering the Vehicles and Selecting the Correct Answer
Now, we assign each vehicle to its corresponding ordered altitude:
- \(5,000\) feet corresponds to the glider.
- \(3,000\) feet corresponds to the airship.
- \(0\) feet corresponds to the sailboat.
- \(-1,500\) feet corresponds to the submarine.
Ordering these from highest to lowest results in: glider, airship, sailboat, submarine. Comparing this result with the provided choices, it matches the last option. Therefore, the correct order is glider, airship, sailboat, submarine.
Examples
Understanding altitude is crucial in navigation and aviation. For instance, air traffic controllers must maintain safe vertical separation between aircraft to avoid collisions, which involves continuously monitoring the relative altitudes of different planes. By knowing that a higher altitude corresponds to a larger numerical value (or a lower value for negative depths in the ocean), engineers and pilots can accurately calculate distances and maintain safety.