Question

Geostationary orbit is at a height of approx ___________.
1. 6 km
2. 1,000 km
3. 3,600 km
4. 36,000 km

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 4 : 36,000 km

The correct answer is 36,000 km.

• Geostationary orbit or geosynchronous orbit is the speed of man-made satellites in which the satellite rotates in its orbit above the Earth's equator.

• This does not mean that the satellite and the Earth move in the same direction, but that the satellite tries to rotate equally with the Earth.
• Geostationary orbit is an elliptical orbit around the earth in which the rotating body has a period of 1 day (equivalent to the Earth's rotation period = 23 hours, 56 minutes, 6 seconds).
• The period of this orbit is the result of keeping it exactly equal to the rotation period of the Earth.

• If the orbit is closer to the planet, the effect of gravity is higher, so the orbiting object must be moving faster to counteract the falling.
• For a geosynchronous orbit, the orbit has to take 24 hours instead of 90 minutes, because the earth takes 24 hours to spin.