A submarine was situated 600 feet below sea level. If it ascends 250 feet, what is its new position?
Dear Student,
Let's take sea level as our horizon: if you are on the water surface, your height is h=0. Also, let's assume a vertical axis pointing upwards. This means that the submarine, being 600 feet away from the horizon in the opposite direction with respect to the axis, will have a negative height of h0=−600.
If it ascends 250 feets, it gains altitude, so the new height is h1=−600+250=−350 feet.
Regards!