A satellite is in a polar orbit. What is the significance of this orbit?
Practice Questions
Q1
A satellite is in a polar orbit. What is the significance of this orbit?
It allows the satellite to cover the entire surface of the Earth.
It is the fastest orbit available.
It is used only for communication satellites.
It is the most stable orbit.
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
A satellite is in a polar orbit. What is the significance of this orbit?
Step 1: Understand what a polar orbit is. A polar orbit is when a satellite travels over the North and South Poles of the Earth.
Step 2: Realize that as the satellite moves in its orbit, the Earth is rotating underneath it.
Step 3: Note that because of this rotation, the satellite can eventually pass over every part of the Earth's surface.
Step 4: Conclude that the significance of a polar orbit is that it allows for complete coverage of the Earth, making it useful for imaging, weather monitoring, and other observations.
Polar Orbit – A polar orbit is an orbit in which a satellite passes over the Earth's poles, allowing it to cover the entire surface of the Earth as the planet rotates.
