Question

Consider earth satellites in circular orbits. A geostationary satellite must be at a height of about 36000 km from the earth's surface. Will any satellite moving at this height be a geostationary satellite? Will any satellite moving at this height have a time period of 24 hours?

Answer 1

Geostationary satellites moving at a height of 36000 Km which have a period of 24 hours.

Explanation:

• If the satellite is reaching exactly 36,000 kms from the surface of the earth (42,164 kms from the earth’s center), it enters a ‘sweet spot’.
• The orbit in this spot matches with the rotation of the earth.
• It should be noticed that the satellites orbit around the earth in the same speed as that of the earth, thus making the satellites stay in the same place over a single longitude.
• This kind of satellites are called geosynchronous satellites.

• The satellites that have a period of 24 hours are called geosynchronous satellites.
• Relative to the surface of the earth, they always remain in the same location.
• More than the LEO satellites, it can be observed that the geosynchronous satellites are much further from the surface of the earth.
• This is because 24 hours period is much lesser than the 90 period.