If the radius of the Earth is R, what is the radius of a satellite in a geostati
Practice Questions
Q1
If the radius of the Earth is R, what is the radius of a satellite in a geostationary orbit?
R
2R
3R
4R
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
If the radius of the Earth is R, what is the radius of a satellite in a geostationary orbit?
Step 1: Understand that a geostationary orbit is a circular orbit where a satellite appears to stay in the same position relative to the Earth's surface.
Step 2: Know that the radius of the Earth is denoted as R.
Step 3: Realize that for a satellite to be in a geostationary orbit, it must be at a specific distance from the center of the Earth.
Step 4: The distance from the center of the Earth to the satellite in geostationary orbit is approximately 3 times the radius of the Earth.
Step 5: Therefore, if the radius of the Earth is R, the radius of the satellite in a geostationary orbit is approximately 3R.
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.
Orbital Radius Calculation – Understanding how to calculate the radius of a satellite's orbit based on gravitational forces and the relationship between the radius of the Earth and the satellite's orbit.