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What i s the approximate height of a geostationary satellite from the surfaceofthe earth ?
Explanation
A geostationary satellite orbits the Earth at an altitude where its orbital period matches the Earth's sidereal rotation period of approximately 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds [t4]. This synchronization causes the satellite to appear stationary over a fixed point on the equator [t3]. The precise altitude for this orbit is 35,786 km above the Earth's surface [t1][t2]. This value is derived by subtracting the Earth's mean radius (approximately 6,378 km) from the orbital radius of 42,164 km measured from the Earth's center [t1][t8]. In practical and academic contexts, this altitude is frequently rounded to 36,000 km or 35,000 km for approximation [t1][t4]. Among the given options, 35,000 km is the closest approximate value to the standard geostationary altitude of 35,786 km [t6][t10].
Sources
- [1] https://www.ssgmce.ac.in/student_resource/Electronics%20&%20Telecommunication%20Engg./SOFC_4U/Unit_I.PDF
- [2] https://www.cbo.gov/publication/59175
- [3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/geostationary-satellite
- [4] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0273117719302492