Question

For the Global Positioning System (GPS) to work, at any given time there must be at least ____________ (two/three) GPS satellites above the horizon.

Answer 1

Three satellites, because they use triangulation (three points) to find out your location

Answer 2

Answer:Three

Explanation: Actually minimum four satellites are required to accurately locate an object in where in space . However three satellites can also serve the purpose but the located-position is less accurate. In case of three satellites the Global Positioning System approximates the location by assuming that the user is at mean sea level.

> single satellite locate the object on a sphere

> two satellites narrows down the location on a circle

>Third satellite locate the position of object above the horizon