Question

Some satellites are called 'geo-stationary' - they seem to hover above the earth, as they remain 36,000 km above a single point on the earth's surface and spin with the earth as it rotates. How much time would such a satellite take to complete one revolution of the earth?

Answer 1

24 hours

Explanation:

This is because they seem to be stationary about one point on the surface of earth. This is possible when the satellite has the same angular speed as the earth.

This means that it takes the same amount of time to the satellite to take one revolution around the earth as it takes the earth to take one revolution about its axis.

`w=(revolutions)/(time)`

`w_(satellite)=w_(earth)`

`(N_(satellite))/(t_(satellite))=(N_(earth))/(t_(earth))`

since
`N_(satellite)=N_(earth)`

then, when solving for t we get that:

`t_(satellite)=t_(earth)`