Gravitation: Geostationary Orbit MCQ

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Geostationary OrbitMediumQuestion 30724

Question

A geostationary satellite has period equal to Earth's rotation period (24 hrs) so it appears stationary over a point. It must orbit:

A
At any altitude above poles
B
In the equatorial plane at specific radius ~42,400 km
Correct
C
At 35,800 km above any latitude
D
At low Earth orbit with speed matched to Earth's rotation

Correct answer

In the equatorial plane at specific radius ~42,400 km

Explanation

Geostationary satellite: T = 24 hr, must be in equatorial plane, must orbit west to east, specific radius ≈ 42,400 km from Earth's centre (~35,800 km above surface).

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