In a geostationary orbit, the satellite remains directly above a specific location on Earth at all times, which is useful for communications and navigation satellites. A satellite in geostationary orbit will complete an orbit every 24 hours. What evidence from the text supports a claim that geostationary satellites must orbit at a specific height above sea level?

Question

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In a geostationary orbit, the satellite remains directly above a specific location on Earth at all times, which is useful for communications and navigation satellites. A satellite in geostationary orbit will complete an orbit every 24 hours. What evidence from the text supports a claim that geostationary satellites must orbit at a specific height above sea level?

The distance between an orbiting satellite and the object it orbits is related to the satellite’s speed.

Gravity holds the satellite in orbit.

Satellites do not all orbit at the same distance from Earth.

An object in LEO must travel faster than an object in HEO.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

The distance between an orbiting satellite and the object it orbits is related to the satellite’s speed.

This statement supports the claim that geostationary satellites must orbit at a specific height, as the speed of the satellite is directly related to its altitude. In order for a satellite to remain in a geostationary orbit and stay above a specific point on Earth, it must orbit at a precise distance (height) that allows it to maintain a synchronous rotation with the Earth’s rotation. This means that both the satellite's orbital speed and its altitude are intrinsically linked, necessitating that it be at a specific height above sea level.