If the radius of the Earth is 6400 km, what is the total distance from the cente

If the radius of the Earth is 6400 km, what is the total distance from the center of the Earth to a satellite in a geostationary orbit? (2000)

If the radius of the Earth is 6400 km, what is the total distance from the center of the Earth to a satellite in a geostationary orbit? (2000)

Step 1: Understand that the radius of the Earth is given as 6400 km.
Step 2: Know that a geostationary satellite orbits at a specific height above the Earth's surface.
Step 3: The height of a geostationary orbit is approximately 36,000 km above the Earth's surface.
Step 4: To find the total distance from the center of the Earth to the satellite, add the Earth's radius to the height of the satellite.
Step 5: Calculate the total distance: 6400 km (Earth's radius) + 36,000 km (height of the satellite) = 42,400 km.
Step 6: Round the total distance to a simpler number, which is approximately 42,000 km.

Geostationary Orbit – A geostationary orbit is a circular orbit around the Earth where a satellite has an orbital period that matches the Earth's rotation period, allowing it to remain fixed over a specific point on the Earth's surface.
Distance Calculation – The total distance from the center of the Earth to a satellite in geostationary orbit is the sum of the Earth's radius and the altitude of the satellite above the Earth's surface.