Question

True/False:

Geostationary satellites are placed in a circular orbit around the Earth at such a distance that their orbital period is exactly equal to 24 hours, which makes the satellite seem to hover over a certain point on the Earth's surface.

Answer 1

True, geostationary satellites have an orbital period of 24 hours and appear to hover over a fixed point on the Earth's equator, essential for communications and weather observations.

Step-by-step explanation:

True,The statement that geostationary satellites are placed in a circular orbit around the Earth at such a distance that their orbital period is exactly equal to 24 hours is true. This positioning aligns with the rotation of the Earth, causing the satellite to maintain a fixed position relative to the surface of the Earth, directly above the equator. These satellites are critical for various applications including communication, weather observation, and broadcasting services. The radius of such an orbit would be calculated using principles from physics, specifically, Kepler's third law of planetary motion, which relates the square of the orbital period of a planet to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit.