A truck unloads sand onto the gound, making a heap in the form of a right circular cone. If the slant height and vertical height of the heap is \(17 \ ft\) and \(8 \ ft\) respectively. Based on this information, compute the following. (Note: Use \(\pi = 3.14\))
1. What is the base radius of the sand heap?
2. What is the volume of sand in the heap?
3. What is the formula used to determine the area occupied by the heap on the ground?
4. Determine the area occupied by the heap on the ground?