Satellites used for telecommunication relay are kept in a geostationary orbit. A satellite is said to be in such an orbit when: 1. The orbit is geosynchronous. 2. The orbit is circular. 3. The orbit lies in the plane of the Earth’s equator. 4. The orbit is at an altitude of 22,236 km. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

QUESTION

Medium

Science & Technology

Prelims 2011

Satellites used for telecommunication relay are kept in a geostationary orbit. A satellite is said to be in such an orbit when:

The orbit is geosynchronous.
The orbit is circular.
The orbit lies in the plane of the Earth’s equator.
The orbit is at an altitude of 22,236 km.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Statement 1 is Correct: A geostationary orbit is a specific type of geosynchronous orbit where the satellite's orbital period matches Earth's sidereal rotation period (approximately 23 hours, 56 minutes). Statement 2 is Correct: For a satellite to remain stationary relative to a point on Earth, the orbit must be circular; an elliptical orbit would cause the satellite's speed to vary according to Kepler's laws, making it appear to move. Statement 3 is Correct: The orbit must lie exactly in the plane of the Earth's equator; if it were inclined, the satellite would appear to oscillate north and south of the equator. Statement 4 is Incorrect: The altitude of a geostationary orbit is approximately 35,786 km. The value 22,236 in the statement refers to the altitude in miles, not kilometers.

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