Final answer:
The GPS consists of about 24 satellites that communicate positioning data worldwide, using highly precise atomic clocks for synchronization and accounting for relativistic effects to maintain accuracy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The GPS (Global Positioning System) relies on a network of approximately 24 satellites transmitting position information worldwide. These satellites orbit the Earth, and at least four of them should be visible from any location on the planet at a given time. Each satellite in the GPS constellation carries a highly precise atomic clock. GPS receivers on Earth detect the signals from overhead satellites, calculating the user's position based on the time it takes these signals to arrive. The atomic clocks are essential for this technology, as they need to be synchronized to within 50 billionths of a second, to allow location determinations within 50 feet. Furthermore, relativistic effects are taken into account to maintain precision, as time ticks slightly differently on the satellites due to their speeds and the weaker gravitational field at their altitude.